Report 2009-107.2 Recommendation 11 Responses
Report 2009-107.2: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation: Inmates Sentenced Under the Three Strikes Law and a Small Number of Inmates Receiving Specialty Health Care Represent Significant Costs (Release Date: May 2010)
Recommendation #11 To: Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of
To better communicate to policy makers the annual cost of incarceration, and to provide a more accurate estimate of expenditures associated with changes in the large leave balances of custody staff—many of whom require relief coverage when they are absent—Corrections should provide an estimate of the annual cost of leave balances likely to be paid for retiring custody staff to the relevant legislative policy and fiscal committees.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2015
As part of the annual projections for the Governor's Budget, CDCR's Budgets Management Branch completes detailed lump sum calculations for possible employee separations to include in the overall Salaries and Wages projections. The Salaries and Wages category includes possible salary increases, temporary help and overtime as part of the Vacant Position coverage to fill behind those separations. The Salaries and Wages projections are part of the overall CDCR budget projections submitted to both the Department of Finance and the Legislative Finance Committee for approval into the final annual Governor's Budget. The attached spreadsheet outlines the detailed calculations supporting the summary line items on the Governor's Budget submittal.
Based on historical trends and current staff for FY 2015-16, lump sum for custody positions, again interpreted to mean BU 6 staff, is estimated to be approximately $103 million. (details attached)
- Completion Date: June 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Fully Implemented
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2014
CDCR's Budget Management Branch estimates from historical trends and current staff, FY 2014-15 projected separation payment (lump sum) to be approximately $90 million for custody positions, interpreted as BU6 staff. (details attached via email)
- Completion Date: June 2014
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
Corrections does not indicate whether it plans to provide the estimate to the relevant legislative policy and fiscal committees.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2013
CDCR's Budget Management Branch will calculate an annual projected separation payment (lump sum) figures based on actual prior year expenditures and taking into account all factors unique to the coming year, in October 2013 and for the period ending June 30 every year thereafter beginning in 2014.
- Completion Date: October 2013
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Not Fully Implemented
Corrections states that its budget management branch will calculate an annual projection in October 2013 and for the period ending June 30 every year thereafter beginning in 2014. Corrections did not provide any documentation--such as the initial annual projection and a policy and procedures requiring an annual calculation for each period ending June 30--to substantiate its claim of fully implemented.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From September 2012
Given the amount of change associated with Public Safety Realignment and the CDCR Blueprint, we are not able to estimate with any real precision the annual cost of leave balances likely to be paid for retiring custody staff. There are simply too many factors currently in flux to reasonably estimate the number of potential lump sum payouts relative to custody staff.
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Will Not Implement
All Recommendations in 2009-107.2
Agency responses received after June 2013 are posted verbatim.