Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority met March 8 to receive its annual audited financial statements and other financial documents from RJR Smith and Company of Buxton. The materials covered the year ending June 30, 2016.

According to the audit, the jail is in good financial shape, with extra funding because the jail had been unable to hire and keep employees. The financial committee said that if the jail can hire and retain a full complement of employees this year, the funding will still be enough for the current and next fiscal years.

Acting commander James Bailey authorized pay hikes for all employees. He said surveys and exit interviews have shown a low pay rate is why Two Bridges staff leave. As of the upcoming pay period, new hires without experience will earn $16 an hour, with commensurate raises for other employees. Bailey said it is still not in line with the median salary for jail staff in the rest of the state. For a new guard, pay ranges from $16 to $21; the median is about $16.75.

The Authority approved the pay increases.

Thayer Corporation expects to start installing new air-exchange equipment in May, Bailey said. Plans for last fall were delayed because the equipment needed to be retrofitted to fit the existing system.

There has been increasing concern that the sending jails, particularly Oxford County, are sending more inmates than contracted. Currently, TBRJ has 45 inmates from Oxford County. The contract signed last September included a provision to increase the per capita rate if the number went above 30 inmates, but restrictions in state law prevent TBRJ from charging a per diem rate. Instead, TBRJ and the sending jails have to renegotiate. The Authority went into executive session on the matter. No action was taken.

Then a second, longer executive session was held on a personnel issue. Afterward, the Authority voted to take disciplinary action against an unnamed person.