PARIS — Oxford County officials are asking lawmakers to return control of the jail system to the counties, if it comes with some help to foot the bill. 

At a special meeting of Oxford County commissioners Thursday evening, law enforcement, state and local politicians tweaked the language of an open letter to lawmakers, urging them to support returning control of the jail to the county and lifting the 72-hour limit on holding inmates. 

“On this question, we believe that the counties are best-suited to accomplish the collective jail’s mission, which differs in several distinct ways from state incarceration facilities,” the letter reads. 

The plan, broadly the same being discussed in the Legislature, is opposed by Gov. Paul LePage, who has called for jails to be run and funded by either state or county government but not both. 

In an argument playing out in Augusta, Commissioner David Duguay of Byron said that since state judges are enforcing state laws and sentencing inmates to county jails, the state should pick up part of the tab for the expense. 

“I’ll be one of the first commissioners to jump up on the table, well, not really, and say, ‘You take them,'” Duguay said.

The letter, addressed to the 10-member legislative delegation from Oxford County, offers the first glimpse at the effects a return of control to counties might mean to taxpayers, as the Sheriff’s Office plots the future mission of the jail within the context of fiscal concerns. 

Reinstatement would see the jail expenditure increasing from $1.4 million to $2.6 million a year, with a 22 percent tax commitment increase, which would mean a 1.78 percent increase in taxpayers’ bills after two years. 

The source of the costs mainly stem from hiring additional corrections officers, medical and food services, and boarding other inmates. 

Since the jails were consolidated seven years ago, the county’s tax assessment has held steady at about $1.23 million because of a spending freeze instituted by the state.

While the arrangement grants the county relief from some state funding insecurities such as an estimated shortfall of nearly $10 million over the next two years, lawmakers say it pushes other counties in the system to the brink. 

“The bottom line is that county jails require more money year to year, but the current system has failed to deliver the sufficient cash,” according to the letter. 

According to Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant, the county would seek to return to a full-service jail and be able to fill a “manageable” portion of its 47-bed capacity. 

Above that limit, inmates — an estimated 25 on average — would be shuttled to neighboring counties. 

Boarding rates have yet to be set, though Gallant said the cost for inmates to be transported and housed at other jails would be less than hiring additional guards and medical personnel. 

County Administrator Scott Cole and Duguay raised concerns that counties with extra capacity would be able to price-gouge those trying to find beds for their inmates unless the law made explicit provisions otherwise. 

“It becomes a sellers’ market,” Cole said. 

ccrosby@sunmediagroup.net 

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