Overlooked in budget rollout: closure of Ahtanum View and Pine Lodge would be done outside of Legislative budget process

One of the overlooked secrets in this week's budget rollout is that the Department of Corrections actually intends to close Ahtanum View Corrections Center and Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women independent of what the Legislature does on the budget.

DOC intends to close Ahtanum View, in Yakima in March 2010, just three months away! Those elderly and medically fragile inmates would move to Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell.

Pine Lodge in Medical Lake would close in May 2010. The plan is for the inmates to be shipped across the state to Mission Creek in Belfair.

These expedited closures go beyond what the recent consultants report recommended. The Legislature ordered that report so it could review options. But DOC plans to move ahead before the Legislature has even weighed in.

DOC rationalizes that it can save $20.7 million by acting now. Waiting for the Legislature to act, assuming lawmakers would go along, would "sacrifice" $1.6 million.

This is not acceptable. The Legislature should review the closure plan as part of the supplemental budget process. And lawmakers should review them in the context of possible revenue increases and closing of tax loopholes aimed at preserving the quality services provided by institutions, including Pine Lodge and Ahtanum View.

So, call legislators at 1-800-562-6000 and urge them to demand that they review the closure plan for Ahtanum View Corrections Center and Pine Lodge Corrections Center for Women before DOC unilaterally acts.

Meanwhile, members at both institutions are continuing their mobilization. We won't tip our hand here, but stay tuned for details.