Among the slew of vetoed bills to be taken up by the Legislature in a special session today is one that would strengthen the state Board of Corrections, and pump $1.2 million into the state’s 15 county jails.
The money provides one-time funding for an anticipated shortfall this year. Without it, some county sheriffs, like Kevin Joyce in Cumberland County, say major changes and layoffs will ensue. If the Legislature doesn’t override the governor’s veto with a two-thirds vote, the money will not be appropriated.
In York County, Sheriff Maurice Ouellette said the 2008 consolidated county jail system, introduced by then-Gov. John Baldacci, hasn’t worked since its inception.
“The $1.2 million would get us through this year. What about next year?” Ouellette asked. “(The state) agreed to certain things back in 2008 and have never lived up to it.”
The bill vetoed by the governor, LD 1824, was overwhelmingly approved by the Legislature; the Maine Senate passed the measure 31-4, while the House passed the bill in a 128-15 vote.
Gov. Paul LePage said the bill, which would give additional authority to the Board of Corrections, doesn’t go far enough.
The York County Advocacy Group is urging the county’s legislative delegation to support an override.
“If the veto on LD 1824 is not overridden, the counties will not see this supplemental appropriation,” states a memo from the advocacy group to the delegation, released to the news media Wednesday. “York County Jail is currently being operated on a bare bones budget with no capital spending and most maintenance deferred,” the memo goes on to say. “Despite this, the jail is currently looking at a $350,000 deficit in this fiscal year.”
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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