Official: Rauner budget to include more corrections officers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Bruce Rauner's first budget address will include a proposal to hire more than 470 corrections officers at the state's prisons.

That's according to an official in the Republican's administration. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt the governor's Wednesday speech.

The official said the plan is expected to save the department roughly $10 million next year in overtime costs while improving safety.

The official says Rauner also wants to add more than $65 million to improve inmate mental-health care and assess safety risks.

It's unclear where Rauner will get the extra money since Illinois faces a more than $6 billion budget hole next year. Rauner has hinted at possible cuts to Medicaid and is expected to propose cuts in spending on higher education.