Projects and programs within the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services are going full steam ahead, according to correctional officials, despite an ongoing state budget crisis.
But the ICE detention facility in McCook stands apart after its educational programs for incarcerated individuals were cut.
The department holds a unique position among state agencies after Gov. Jim Pillen called for more budget cuts under an ever-growing state budget deficit. Namely, it is one of only a few agencies spared from hiring freezes and a ban against filling vacancies or creating new positions. But it also must cut its budget by 5% under Pillen’s order…