The Legislature’s cap on county government spending is ill-advised. The current “one-size-fits-all” reform threatens the existence of county government.

The hard reality is that the lion’s share of county budget dollars is spent to lock up local detainees in each of Maine’s 15 jails. Jail costs have increased between six and eight percent a year. In only five years, Cumberland County inmate health care costs have soared from approximately $650,000 to $2.2 million per annum. Contrast such escalation with the expected cap of 2.58 percent, and what funds remain are inadequate to meet our mission.

County commissioners will undoubtedly direct sheriffs to reduce law enforcement resources allocated to communities, which currently lack local police services. Jail budgets will become financial sinkholes. Deeds, probate, staff support for prosecutors, courthouse maintenance, all will suffer from jail budget encroachment.

Maine sheriffs have proposed that an exemption would allow for an objective review of state policies that aggravate the cost of jail operations. The Maine Association of Counties intends to present its case for a jail exemption before the members of the Legislature’s Committee on State and Local Government.

I would urge the committee to recognize the daunting financial reality of jail administration and the need to lessen the tax impact those institutions have placed upon local government.

Cumberland County Sheriff Mark N. Dion, Portland

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