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By Dennis J. Willard
Beacon Journal Columbus Bureau
Published on Sunday, Jan 11, 2009
Cracks are starting to show in the eggshell-thin support system that state government provides.
In the first full workweek of the new year, the phone lines at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services call centers were overwhelmed. People were placed on hold for hours.
On average, 7,500 people use the phones daily to inquire about unemployment benefits. That number spiked to 80,000 a day last week.
Making matters worse, the department's computers crashed for a day, which redirected anyone interested in using the Internet for automated services to the already over-burdened call centers.
By week's end, the computers were running, Job and Family Services was hiring temporary help, call-center hours were extended an additional three hours a day — with six new operating hours on Saturdays — and the wait time had been reduced to about 30 minutes on average.
The state created a separate toll-free number, 1-866-962-4064, solely to handle inquiries about Internet passwords and personal identification numbers to keep the automated system moving and to reduce call-center activity.
A sudden surge in calls can be blamed on the economy, the holiday season's temporary jobs ending, and the federal government's decision in November to extend the unemployment benefit period by an additional seven weeks to a maximum of 46 weeks.
Then again, being on message in state government this year means repeating the mantra: ''It's the economy's fault, stupid.''
It will be convenient and attractive to public officials to use the economy as an excuse to implement policies, while sold as a response to needed budgetary trimming, that might be guided more by philosophy than by frugality.
Take the decision last week by Gov. Ted Strickland and the Ohio Department of Youth Services to close the Marion Juvenile Correctional Facility and the Freedom Center in Delaware County.
The factors cited by the department for the closings were the current economic crisis and a decline of almost 300 inmates during the past year.
Marion has 176 youth prisoners. The Freedom Center is a residential treatment facility that houses 18 female inmates. Together, the two sites employ about 330 state workers.
Ohio will save about $24 million annually through the closings.
In a prepared statement, Thomas Stickrath, youth services director, pledged to aid his employees in connecting with ''resources that can help to lessen the impact of the closures.''
After being sued, the state recently entered into a settlement agreement regarding ongoing problems, including population and staffing levels, that called for increasing the number of almost every type of employee imaginable at the facilities from correctional officers
to medical workers.
Now, the state is preparing to reduce the youth service work force and transfer inmates to other facilities.
The remaining youth prisons once again will be filled at more than 100 percent of capacity.
So it is more than puzzling to understand how the state believes stuffing facilities with youth inmates while reducing existing staff is a prudent and safe course to follow.
Saving $24 million is the excuse, but that is a pittance in the overall scheme of the $28 billion annual state budget.
For reasons not being articulated, Strickland and Stickrath want to close youth service prisons, and it's the economy's fault, stupid.
The economy also will offer state leaders cover when they attempt to push for casino gambling this year.
Last week, newly anointed House Speaker Armond Budish, D-Beachwood, stated casinos should be considered as the state struggles with the economy.
Senate President Bill Harris, R-Ashland, and Strickland both indicated they were all ears.
On Thursday, cornered by a gaggle of media elites in a Statehouse hallway, Strickland sounded like Elmer Gantry when he was asked about gambling.
''I want to tell you, my brother, I am aware of the severity of what we are facing. And I believe that compels me to allow myself to hear all arguments and to weigh all consequences,'' the governor said.
''And so I think gambling is not good for Ohio, and it certainly would not be any preferred course of action on my part. But I am unwilling to close my mind to any argument that is brought to me regarding how we may be able to get through these very, very difficult times.''
Make no mistake: Strickland, Budish and Harris would jump at the chance to open casinos around the state to generate millions, possibly billions, for their declining state coffers, but they do not want to appear pro-gambling if the effort somehow would backfire.
The three wise men know Ohioans have rejected casinos at the ballot box four times since 1990.
Still, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, or as Strickland likes to say, ''Someone once said, 'You should never waste a good crisis.' ''
Dennis J. Willard can be reached at 614-224-1613 or dwillard@thebeaconjournal.com.
Cracks are starting to show in the eggshell-thin support system that state government provides.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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akron, oh
Posted 05:57 AM, 01/11/2009
330 employees to take care of 200 inmates? therein lies that nature of the problem.
Posted 08:09 AM, 01/11/2009
Word,you nailed that one. Strickland must stay on this course of closing these institutions as long as the state is continually being sued to increase staffing levels.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:55 AM, 01/11/2009
We can abort millions of babies but we must not gamble? Thanks "Rev." Ted.
Now he wants gambling? As long as the government not permitted to touch the money it would be a great idea. Strickland does not need more of my money to waste.
Posted 09:01 PM, 01/11/2009
Cut off welfare to the habitual, legacy welfare scums, and put the money into the unemployment kitty, for those that have actually been working and contributed.
akron, oh
Posted 08:04 AM, 01/12/2009
I thought welfare was limited to 2 years and no more. We need jobs more than anything.
