Maine should consider closing its largest youth correctional facility to save money, the head of the state Department of Corrections said yesterday.
Commissioner Martin Magnusson included closing Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland among his cost-cutting recommendations to help the state cut $5.4 million from its budget in the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the Portland Press Herald reported. Under the plan, residents and staff at Long Creek would relocate to Mountain View Youth Development Center in Charleston.
Magnusson gave his recommendations to Gov. John Baldacci yesterday, the deadline for state departments to submit their cost-cutting plans, the paper said. To curb a nearly $200 million budget shortfall, Baldacci is hoping to cut $99 million from the 2008-2009 budget.
After Baldacci receives each department’s plan, he’ll draft a supplemental budget and submit it to the Legislature, the paper said.
