AUBURN — Sheriff Eric Samson says he expects some relief, but a funding crisis is brewing if the state returns control of the jails to the counties without the adequate resources.

The hit to taxpayers in Androscoggin County could reach $2 million a year.

Samson gave an update to the Androscoggin County Commission on Wednesday concerning jail funding and the likely return of the jails to county control. 

While the Legislature appears to be moving in that direction, the possibility of the state providing the counties funding for a soft landing is uncertain.

“I don’t think a $2 million hit to taxpayers would be fair,” Samson said. “The state could say, ‘Here’s your jail back. Good luck.’ That’s setting us up for failure.”

Maine jails were consolidated in 2008, with funding split between the counties and the state. County funding was capped at 2009 levels, with the state making up the difference.

For Androscoggin County, the taxable amount was capped at $4.2 million. The jail anticipates spending $5.9 million this year, while the state flat-funded the county at $5.6 million.

The $300,000 deficit when the jail’s fiscal year ends June 30 was expected when the budget was developed last year, Samson said. That figure has remained constant.

Last Friday, a legislative committee approved a $2.48 million bailout for five county jails operating at a deficit — Aroostook, Cumberland, Penobscot, York and Androscoggin. That bailout amount only included $151,000 for Androscoggin County instead of the full $300,000.

The Board of Corrections reported Androscoggin County’s six-month figure to the legislative committee instead of the full amount, Samson said.

While the Sheriff’s Department has undertaken several measures to save money, Samson said there are no easy places to cut. The department does not have a clerical staff. Closing a section of the jail and sending those prisoners to other jails would cost more than it would save.

“We’ve been lean and mean for a long time,” Commission Chairwoman Beth Bell said.

The county had already completed efficiencies to save money. For example, converting from oil to natural gas saved more than $100,000 the first year, Bell said.

Overcrowding is also an issue, Samson said. The funded capacity at the Auburn jail is 144 prisoners, while the state’s rated capacity for the facility is 160. But the average population this fiscal year has never dipped below the funded capacity. The population reached 180 prisoners earlier this month and stood at 175 Wednesday.

That doesn’t include the 12 prisoners currently housed at Cumberland County Jail in Portland and the four at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset.

To help ease overcrowding, the county has an aggressive alternative sentencing program for OUI where, instead of jail, inmates pay a fee and perform community service.

The commissioners are being as proactive as possible, but without help from the Legislature, the future could be grim.

“We didn’t create this mess, but we’re in this mess,” Commissioner Randy Greenwood said.

“We need to get the word out,” Samson said. “This will affect everybody.”

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