“What will happen at the end of the legislative session?”

Mark Westrum, administrator for Two Bridges Regional Jail, posed that question to members of the Jail Authority at the March 11 meeting. “If the state does not provide funding for county jails, we will be looking at a big gap come June 1,” Westrum said. “If we operate within our respective (property) tax caps, how does the jail continue to operate?”

Authority members continue to consider alternatives to fund the jail in the face of several unknown outcomes, including proposed solutions that are making their way through the legislative process in Augusta. Among the unknowns is whether or not the TBRJ budget for fiscal year 2016 would include state funding or whether county jails will be operating without that revenue. The jail is on target to spend its $6.8 million budget for the current fiscal year. 

Faced with unanswered questions, the Jail Authority is considering establishing contracts with neighboring counties for a pre-determined number of “revenue boarders” at TBRJ.  Through the potential contract arrangement, sending counties would share expenses on a fixed pro rata basis. While too early in the discussion to be finalized, such expenses might include operating costs, debt service and improvements. Extraordinary medical expenses would be the responsibility of the sending county.  

Members of the Authority reached out to Knox County last week. Pam Hile, Sagadahoc County Administrator, reported that Knox County seemed “very interested,” and Joel Merry, Sagadahoc County Sheriff and President of the Maine Sheriff’s Association, said that Knox County’s proximity “makes for an easy transition.” It was also determined that members of the Authority would reach out to other counties in addition to Knox County, but in an informal manner.

“We’re engaging in these discussions because we are exploring options,” Authority member Charles Leadbetter said.