GREENWOOD – Speaking before town officials Wednesday, Sheriff Wayne Gallant of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office said a new jail plan will help reduce taxes in the county.

“This plan, all in all, has got some tax benefits for the people in Oxford County,” Gallant said at the monthly Oxford County Municipal Officers meeting. “It shows that people with different opinions and ideas can sit down and come up with a plan that benefits everyone.”

Gallant had been opposed to jail consolidation plans proposed by Gov. John Baldacci, first put forth in August 2007, which initially included the Oxford County Jail as one of four jails to be closed. The plan was later revised to make the jail into a 72-hour holding facility.

“It was going to take our tax money and supplement the state budget,” Gallant said.

Under a new plan put forth by local and county officials, a Board of Corrections will oversee the county jails and work to manage costs. Gallant said the plan also caps jail spending at the 2008 level, which was $1.3 million for Oxford County. He estimated that the initial savings to the county will be in the upper $70,000 range and increase over time.

Gallant said the new system will also create a standard fee for boarding inmates at other jails, create new wards to treat inmates with mental disabilities, and seek to reduce the cost of transporting inmates.

Bethel Town Manager Scott Cole asked Gallant if the Sheriff’s Office would be willing to support a consolidation of law enforcement services in the county. Cole said an unfair burden exists on towns that have their own police departments.

“They pick up the sheriff’s tab, but they pick up their own tab as well,” Cole said.

Gallant said he would support discussions on the issue similar to those that were held regarding the jail consolidation. He said call sharing between the Sheriff’s Office and Maine State Police has lead to greater efficiencies in police coverage in the county.

“You’ll always see a trooper out there with a deputy now responding to calls,” Gallant said.