LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska’s top corrections official is facing questions from a legislative oversight committee about staffing vacancies in his department, a major problem that has contributed to high levels of employee turnover.

Department of Correctional Services Director Scott Frakes acknowledged Wednesday that the number of positions requested in a staffing report was less than what his staff originally recommended.

A draft report by the department initially called for 254 additional positions, at a cost of nearly $12 million a year. That number was lowered in the final report to 138 positions, at a cost of roughly $653,000.

Prison officials note that they’re already taking steps to address staffing problems. Administrators announced plans Wednesday to award a one-time $500 retention bonus for 1,000 employees in jobs with high turnover and vacancy rates.