County leaders say the failure to include additional funding for jails in the Maine’s supplemental budget will put the burden on local taxpayers.

The supplemental budget was passed by the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee last week, but without any of the additional funding counties had sought to make up for ongoing shortfalls caused by rising costs and insufficient state funding.

County leaders had asked for $4 million for fiscal 2026 and $8 million for fiscal 2027.

An emergency bill that has passed the House and Senate will be considered for funding, but without that, county leaders said, the shortfalls will be passed on to county taxpayers.

Jeff Chute, Androscoggin County administrator, expressed his “deep frustration and concern” with the decision. He said the funding was supported by the Maine Municipal Association, the Maine Sheriffs Association, and the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, and it reflects a state obligation to Maine’s criminal justice system.

“Failing to include this funding is not just disappointing — it is a serious negligence of responsibility. Once again, the state is shifting its financial obligation onto local property taxpayers, who are already carrying more than their fair share,” he said.

For Androscoggin County, the consequences are immediate, Chute said.

The county jail has about a $1.2 million shortfall because of not enough state funding, he said.

Beginning July 1, the county stands to lose about $512,000, its share of $4 million set aside last year for medication-assisted treatment that won’t be coming again, Chute wrote.

“This will place significant strain on our budget and will result in increased costs to local taxpayers,” he said.

Municipal leaders in Androscoggin County previously expressed concern over the rising costs of operating the county jail and the lack of appropriate state funding.

Androscoggin County included $700,000 in this year’s budget to pay for housing inmates at other jails due to overcrowding. The jail has 160 beds for inmates and the population is typically over 200 inmates.

The emergency bill, LD 2232, “An Act to Increase County Jail Funding,” which passed the House the Senate, will go to the Special Appropriations Table to be considered for funding, Sen. Margaret “Peggy” Rotundo, D-Lewiston, wrote in an email. She is chair of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee.

In Oxford County, Administrator Zane Loper estimated a $100,000 shortfall.

It is very unfortunate this shortfall will be directly funded by property taxes, he said.

The overall Oxford County budget is $18.6 million, with $5.2 million of it for the jail.

The Maine County Commissioners Association and Maine Sheriffs Association jointly expressed “significant disappointment” that the supplemental funding was not included.

“These additional state funds are needed to ensure the state share of county jail operating costs remains consistent with prior year levels,” the groups said in a Facebook post.

Franklin County Administrator Amy Bernard said as long as state funding for jails doesn’t match the cost, the burden will fall on local residents.

“The costs associated with jail operations, including numerous inmate services required by the state, will ultimately be passed on to property taxpayers,” she said.

There was broad agreement and clear support for the funding, Chute said. Choosing not to act is deeply troubling.

“Counties should not be forced to repeatedly absorb costs that belong to the state,” he said. “We strongly urge lawmakers to reconsider this decision before the budget is finalized. Continuing down this path is unsustainable and unfair to the residents we serve.”