When it comes to jail funding for the new year, it looks much like last year:

Murky.

The Lincoln and Sagadahoc Regional Jail Authority met Wednesday, Jan. 8 to discuss, among other things, the fiscal situation the jail faces as the calendar flips over.

In short, the jail finds itself in a similar, if no less difficult, position it did a year ago, Board of Corrections Chairman Mark Westrum said.

Westrum, along with Executive Director Ryan Thornell and Financial Analyst Diana Youngblood, filed a supplemental budget request to the office of Fiscal and Program Review, which could rankle Gov. Paul LePage, he said.

“What we tried to show is that the true need is $3.1 million, but we could survive with only $1.9 million,” Westrum said. “The gamble is that they will see that and only give us $1.9 million.

“But, I'd be happy with that $1.9. We can get by with something rather than nothing.”

In the request, Westrum said the total shortfall for the state would be almost $3.1 million without any additional help.

“At the very least, the supplemental budget amount needed to fund the county jails' expenditures at a safe operating level as required by law is $1,948,324,” he wrote. “This amount is based off an average 2.4 percent growth rate in expenditures over the past years of BOC operation.”

It was also described that the BOC would need $560,000 to be withheld for Somerset County in anticipation of upcoming legislation.

If the money isn't received it could affect staffing levels, pretrial services and cause funding to be discontinued for recidivism reduction programs.

With the legislative branch back in session Wednesday, Jan. 8, Westrum said there is a chance some movement could happen.

But, if it doesn't, there are some contingencies the jail could take, namely not hiring for open positions and finding other places to cut.

Until then, all eyes are focused at the state level to see what funding could come down the pipe to help the jail.

“Even if we get a partial payment into February we should be all right for the quarter,” Westrum said.

When March approaches there should be a better idea of where all parties stand, Westrum added.

“My first priority is to have balance,” he said. “By March, we should have a contingency plan in place.”

Jail Authority Treasurer Peter Lepari said that if the money becomes available then Two Bridges should be in good shape.

“At the moment, we're still hanging in there,” Lepari said. “If we get the third quarter payment from the board of corrections there's a good chance we'll break even.

“If not, we could be looking at a $300,000 deficit where we'd have to make cuts between now and the end of the year.”

Lincoln County Commission Chairman William Blodgett said waiting on money that might not come is not where the jail authority wants to be.

“It doesn't make me feel all warm and fuzzy to hear that if we get money we might survive,” he said.

Related: County jails need to save money