Lots of savings, furlough was difficult

Corrections Director Brent Reinke said Idaho’s prison system saved the state $4.5 million in the holdbacks earlier this year. “That’s a significant cut for this agency,” he said. “We’re hoping that we have no unanticipated maintenance expenses occur.” Among the various cuts, which included terminating most of the department’s temporary workers and suspending purchases of equipment, was a one-day furlough for all department employees. “The furlough was tough on staff - it hit at Thanksgiving,” Reinke told lawmakers. “Many staff asked that if there were further furloughs, they be spread over two or three pay periods, so they could continue to make their mortgage payments and pay their bills.”