PHARSALIA – The New York State Department of Correctional Services began implementing an $8.7 million savings plan this week that could close one of Camp Pharsalia’s housing units.

This action is part of a larger state move called for by Governor David Paterson to reduce housing in 15 prisons in order to reduce spending.

The department announced in January that Camp Pharsalia, along with three other minimum and medium security facilities, were to close at the start of 2009. That decision was renegotiated, however.

Originally, Camp Pharsalia had four dorms. One was closed four years ago, and now the state is again reducing the number of beds at the facility.

Union Steward Paul Lashway said that currently the camp is 10 officers shy of a full staff and retiring personnel were not being replaced.

Lashway said the state planned to transfer out the 56 inmates currently inhabiting the targeted dorm, or release them over time.

“Basically they’ll be removed from the facility through attrition which would take roughly three or four months,” he said.

Lashway said the union was currently petitioning the state to allow staff to consolidate the inmates into the two remaining dorms in lieu of lowering the camp’s head count.