State Sen. Dan Rutherford has a good idea to put more money in the state
coffers -- and it would benefit Livingston County, too.
Rutherford, a
Republican from Chenoa, has suggested selling the warden's home, which is in a
residential area of Pontiac.
The suggestions were made in a letter to Gov. Pat Quinn that calls into
question the practice of the state providing residences for wardens.
Selling the state-owned warden's home -- which Warden Guy Pierce isn't
living in anyway -- would put it back on local tax rolls. That means local
taxing districts, from Livingston County to Pontiac to school districts, would
benefit from increased tax revenue.
Rutherford's letter doesn't stop with Pontiac. It calls for looking at all
the prisons and homes for wardens -- as a matter of policy, not just revenue
generation.
The letter also suggests a possible long-term lease of prison land that is
commonly referred to as "the farm" and is located way from the prison itself.
Rutherford said the bottomland on and near the Vermilion River isn't farmed
and could provide access for hunters. A group such as Pheasants Forever or
Whitetails Unlimited might be suitable for managing the land, he said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections said the agency "will take
into consideration" Rutherford's recommendations.
That "consideration" should be more than superficial.
There are nearly 30 state correctional facilities in Illinois, not counting
transitional centers for inmates nearing release. Only eight have warden
residences, including Pontiac, and only five of them are currently being lived
in by their wardens.
That calls into the question the "need" for having such residences.
With nearly half not being used -- Pontiac, Dwight and Vandalia -- this
would be a good time to begin phasing them out, unless someone has a
cost-effective, logical reason for keeping them that hasn't been expressed.
One problem with making the move now could be timing. This isn't exactly a
seller's market. The state might get a higher price if it waits further into
the economic recovery.
But that shouldn't stop a review of the policy of maintaining a warden's
house at eight of the state's prisons and preparing those homes for sale, if
that's deemed to be the best course.
We also agree with another suggestion from Rutherford: If the state sells
the warden's home in Pontiac or any other prison, this one-time infusion of
cash should go into bond retirement or similar debt reduction, rather than
operational expenses.
