718 WEST 5th ST AUSTIN, TEXAS 78701 jjr615 Daily News Henderson, Texas MAY 2 6 1982 Austin said the emergencyfunds would give the TDC $23 million to add 4,000 more beds by the end of September, and $250,000 for contrac- ting with counties to release TDC inmates on work furlough programs. The rest of the money would go for utilities and more housing for TDC employees. Hobby said legislators also would consider proposals to add more employees to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, expand the adult proba- tion program and to give the governor leeway to grant paroles when overcrowding reaches an emergency level. On Monday, TDC Director W.J. Estelle told a House committee it would take $630.5 million 1,1111MI. over the next three years to build adequate prison space. The TDC now holds almost 34,000 inmates and, in order to comply with the federal court order, has adopted a limit on how many inmates it will accept. "What the board wants the public to realize is that if we continue to have a net increase of 500 inmates a month, it's going to cost the state a lot of money," said Austin. Hobby said that in addition to budget ceiling limitations, he balked at the $85 million figure because it "would be putting in concrete an ex- penditure of a billion dollars by 1985. We're not prepared to do that without a good deal more study." Clements said a task force on the prison pro- blem would be appointed soon and would have a recommendation on firmer spending plans ready for the regular session of the Legislature in January. Clements opens special session to prisons By KATHY BAKER Associated Press Writer AUSTIN — The special legislative session that was supposed to simply repeal the state property tax was expanded today to include emergency funding for the state's overcrowded prison system and other issues. Gov. Bill Clements announced Tuesday after meeting with Texas Department of Corrections officials, Lt. Gov. Bill Hobby and House Speaker Bill Clayton that legislators would be asked to appropriate $45 million for the prison system. In the proclamation issued today, Clements also added to the agenda the state ceiling on welfare payments, increasing the maximum in- terest rate on state bonds, and exempting "the implements of husbandry" from property taxes. Clements called the special session to repeal the property tax, which remains in the state Con- stitution but has not been collected since 1979, when the Legislature tried to do away with it. The governor also wants lawmakers to come up with money for college construction that had been funded by the tax. State officials have called on Clements to let legislators consider construction funds for the prison system, which had to close its doors to new inmates earlier this month. The TDC is under a federal court order against over- crowding. The TDC board adopted a resolution Tuesday asking Clements to open the session, which began Monday, to appropriate $85 million for prison construction. But Hobby said after the meeting that all TDC could get f Dr now is $45 million. "Our board passed $85 million, but we're told $45 million is all we can get," said TDC Board Chairman T.L. Austin. "We'll try to judiciously spend what's available," Please see ' • ,•••••••• • •