OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is requesting about $85 million in additional funding for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2015.
The agency's governing board voted unanimously Thursday to approve a budget request that includes additional money to pay for raises for prison workers, additional inmates, infrastructure improvements and other items.
The agency received $470 million for the current fiscal year and wants more than $555 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
The pay raises would cost $14 million, while the cost for the rising inmate population is about $30 million. Those two items were listed as the agency's top priorities.
Other requests include approximately $17 million for technology upgrades, $1 million for new vehicles, $5 million for health services, and $8 million for infrastructure upgrades.