ALFRED — York County Jail could be facing a deficit of as much as $700,000 by June 30, the end of the county’s fiscal year.

That projection could be eased somewhat, York County Manager Greg Zinser told county commissioners

Wednesday, if the state Legislature includes funding for Maine’s county jails in the supplemental budget.

If that happens, York County Jail could realize about $318,000 in funding, which would still leave the jail approximately $380,000 short.

Zinser said the biggest driver of the projected deficit is overtime costs, wages and benefits.

York County Sheriff Bill King said there are more people incarcerated in York County Jail now than ever before – and many of them are pre-trial detainees who are unable to make bail or are ineligible for bail.

He noted a spate of recent arrests for violent crimes and of out-of-state drug dealers by several law enforcement agencies. All of them ended up at York County Jail, he said.

Last Christmas, a time the jail traditionally has fewer inmates than the rest of the year, there were 271 inmates at the 298-capacity facility. According to Jail Administrator Michael Vitiello, 22 percent of the inmates have been sentenced, while 78 percent are pre-trial.

Among the pre-trial inmates are James Pak, a Biddeford man accused of killing two teenagers and wounding an adult in December 2012. His trial is set to begin in mid-February. Dylan Collins, who was charged with murder and arson in Biddeford in September 2014, remains incarcerated there as well.

King estimated that about 100 pre-trial detainees are out of jail on contracts with Maine Pre-Trial Services. Contracts typically include a number of conditions. If the inmate adheres to the conditions, they remain free until trial; if not, they are returned to jail.

On Friday, King said he was also examining instituting an electronic monitoring program, whereby some inmates could be released to their communities and have their movements monitored by an electronic bracelet or a similar device.

King, who took office in January, reminded commissioners that in 2008 and again in 2013, nationally recognized jail analyst Rod Miller recommended that York County Jail employ 95 corrections staff, and predicted hefty overtime costs otherwise. York County Jail currently has 76 corrections positions.

The sheriff said language in union contracts that detail how personal time and earned time may be used is also a driver in overtime costs.

The York County Jail budget contains $400,000 in overtime for the current fiscal year. But if projections play out, it will have spent more than three times that much by the end of June.

Finance Director Victoria Ridlon said the county knew that the $400,000 figure was low when the budget was crafted. On Friday, she said savings in other accounts are projected to lessen the impact of the overtime spending, resulting in a projected $700,000 overall deficit by year’s end.

County commissioners pointed out that the state jail consolidation law passed in 2008 capped county contributions to jail operations – York County’s contribution is $8.3 million annually. The law spelled out that the state was supposed to pick up remaining costs, but counties have maintained that the state has never fully lived up to that standard.

“I’m a little resentful of these other states,” said Commissioner Gary Sinden, pointing out that alleged drug dealers drive to Maine and are arrested here, so the county incurs costs to incarcerate them if they can’t make bail.

While renting bed space to other county jails has been discussed, York County is seen as being too far away from jails that would likely be looking. King said his team is working on becoming certified to house federal prisoners, which could produce a revenue stream.

Commissioner Michael Cote said that when the Legislature modified the jail consolidation law a year ago, “it went from bad to worse.”

“We need to really hammer the Legislators and explain that this is really a dangerous situation here,” sad Cote.

Zinser, the county manager, said the Maine Judicial Branch’s decision to create a unified criminal docket in York County “was supposed to help,” but that delays remain in the process.

Commissioner Richard Dutremble said he hoped the deficit isn’t made up from the county’s general fund.

“It’s not only a York County problem, but a state problem,” said Sinden. “This is a question for the state to step up and meet its responsibility.”

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282- 1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.