Detroit prison to close; 2,000 face layoffs to fill state budget gap

LANSING, MI &#8211 The state of Michigan will be closing a Detroit prison and turning over the prison health care system to a private contractor. Tens of thousands of other state employees will receive unpaid furlough days. These measures are part of a budget balancing plan announced by Governor Rick Snyder.

The goal of these measures is to save the state $145 million in the 2011-12 state fiscal year, which begins Saturday. They were announced after talks with state employee unions failed to produce contract concessions to close the gap.

From The Detroit Free Press.

More from The Latest News.