PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – While a budget deal announced this week would give state workers and Medicaid providers a two percent increase, more may be needed to keep staff at critical state facilities.

Representative Jean Hunhoff of Yankton says there are state units still understaffed.

Hunhoff, a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee, says longer shifts are being considered in some of the state’s prisons.

Hunhoff says the staff at those facilities have made sacrifices now.

Hunhoff says there is some consideration of rolling over dollars budgeted for vacant positions and using them for hiring and retention bonuses.

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