During a meeting of the Lincoln and Sagadahoc Multicounty Jail Authority Jan. 19, board members examined a preview of the fiscal year 2012-’13 budget prepared by corrections administrator, Col. Mark Westrum.
The preliminary report outlined a series of cost increases if the jail were to go from 154 to 181 inmates in 2012 and then to 185 in 2013. The budget, very much in draft form, said Westrum, weighed the escalating costs of housing inmates with an anticipated need for more staff. Board members expressed concern over going beyond the designated average daily population of the jail.
“To do so would destroy the concept of direct supervision,” said Westrum.
To accommodate additional prisoners, the jail would be forced to use space not designated for such a purpose, which could potentially damage the “psyche” of the inmates, said Major Mark Anderson, administrator for TBRJ.
“We have 192 places to lie down,” said Anderson.
Though still in draft form, the projected budget is approximately $1,700,000 over a cap established by the state legislature in 2008, which would require the TBRJ authority to go before the Board of Corrections.
“It’s very much a line by line review,” said Westrum in an interview with The Lincoln County News. “It’s a justification to make sure the state is funding this and not the taxpayers of Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties.”
In other Board business, Westrum highlighted two profit-making work projects by inmates. The first involved the construction of replica WWII ammunition boxes that have drawn the interest of Freeport-based retailer LL Bean. The second project, still in its infancy according to Board members, is the making of pillows and mattresses.
“It may sound silly but it does save money,” said Westrum.
The Board is scheduled to meet next on Feb. 16 at the Two Bridges Regional Jail.
