An anticipated $502,000 shortfall in the state Board of Corrections investment fund this year might be about $500,000 “to the good,” according to Colonel Mark Westrum.
Westrum, Correctional Administrator for Two Bridges Regional Jail and chairman for the BOC, reported the change in outlook at the Jan. 16 meeting of the Lincoln and Sagadahoc Multicounty Regional Jail Authority.
“Those numbers are very, very preliminary,” Westrum said. The BOC will need to adopt a policy where money from the investment fund follows the inmates to the facilities in which they’re housed in order for the financial situation to work out, he said.
The jail is slated to receive just over $2 million dollars from the investment fund this year, and has received both its first and second quarter payments. At the Authority’s Dec. 12 meeting, Westrum had said the third or fourth quarter payments could be at risk due to the shortfall.
On Jan. 16, Westrum urged frugality in areas that don’t affect safety and security.
“I think we’ll be alright, I really do,” Westrum said.
As of Jan. 9, jail revenues year to date were at $3,688,691.63 and expenses were $3,463,546.44.
Authority Treasurer Peter Lepari said his projection for expenses is that they will be about $145,000 under what was budgeted for the year.
If the BOC only made either the third or fourth quarter payment of about $500,000, the Authority might need to use some of the surplus left over from fiscal year 2012, Lepari said.
Charlie Leadbetter was appointed chairman of the Policy Committee, and Lincoln County Commissioner Mary Trescot was appointed as a member of the same.
Martin-Savage and Sheriffs Todd Bracket (Lincoln) and Joel Merry (Sagadahoc) were appointed to be the representatives-at-large for the Executive Committee.
Martin-Savage shared with the Authority that she had the Spirit of America Award and letter of legislative sentiment presented to the volunteers of the TBRJ Programs Department last year framed.
The next meeting of the Authority will be at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 13 at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.