Taxpayers from Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties are subsidizing much of the state corrections costs, but have little or no say on the rules or rates, a state official said last Thursday.
Neale Duffet, the chairman of the Board of Corrections, admitted that state-imposed spending caps for jail expenses do not take into account actual costs, including capital expenditures, like mortgage payments made by the counties.
He seemed also surprised that jail, paid for and run by the two neighboring counties, is being used to house more prisoners “from away” than locals, at rates jail officials say are just a fraction of the actual costs.
“Others benefit from this jail,” said Denise Lord, a deputy commissioner of corrections.
The statements came during a joint meeting Thursday between officials of the two counties and state corrections officials at the jail.
Duffet said he came to listen and try to understand a squabble between the two counties over cost-sharing arrangements.
While both sides argued principle, it was clear they were really arguing about money.
Lincoln County commissioners Sheridan Bond, Bill Blodgett and Sheriff Todd Brackett said the contract the two counties signed called for a cost-sharing formula that should be adjusted each year to take into account the actual numbers of prisoners from each community.
Sagadahoc commissioner Alan J. Houston and Sheriff Joel A. Merry argued the formula should not be changed. They argued the state imposed spending cap overrules the cost-sharing agreement.
Current rates have Lincoln County paying 57 percent of the costs (about $3 million) while Sagadahoc pays 43 percent, or $2.3 million. It costs about $6.6 million to run the facility, they said.
Both sides urged Duffet to rule for their side.
When the jail was built, Bond explained, both counties were promised they would have income from the state and other counties and the U.S. Marshall’s Service.
“The governor came to the opening and said we would be rewarded,” said Bond.
On Sept. 1, the jail housed 30 prisoners from Sagadahoc and 31 from Lincoln. By contrast, there were 50 state prisoners and 22 from Waldo county, with six federal prisoners.
While the federal government pays $104 a day to house their prisoners, the state pays just $22.
“I have a friend who claims he pays $18 a day to kennel his dog and he has to bring the food,” said John O’Connell, Lincoln County Administrator.
The rates the state pays to house prisoners are not even close to paying the cost of their stay, he said. Actual costs are between $100 to $120 a day.
“They (state corrections officials) finally acknowledged they did not understand the concept of a regional jail where we pay all the bills and they make all the rules,” he said after the meeting.
It is clear they did not understand the effects of the law mandating the spending cap on jail administration, he said.
Duffet seemed surprised when told the annual payments on the jail’s $60 million mortgage were not included in the spending cap limits.
“I am open to revisiting this matter (with the legislature),” he said.
As for the cost-sharing dispute between the two counties, he said he would try to figure out something.
“I don’t believe I have an answer, but I am willing to give it a try,” said Duffet.