York County Manager Greg Zinser, far left, and County Commissioners Richard Clark, Robert Andrews, Chair Richard Dutremble, Donna Ring and Justin Chenette. Photo: Katherine Derby
By Tammy Wells, York County Government media
When York County Commissioners approved the proposed $31.64 million county operating budget for the next fiscal year April 8 and turned it over to the county budget committee, they did so after learning that some state funds for Maine’s 15 county jails would not be forthcoming.
In the Legislature, not only was a bill designed to provide a more predictable annual county jail appropriation seemingly off the table; commissioners learned the existing $2.4 million state jail allotment would be reduced by more than $400,000. Commissioners added the figure to the budget to avert a shortfall, which put the proposed overall county budget increase at 10.6 percent from the prior year, rather than just over 9 percent.
Then, five days later, came welcome news: Commission Chair Richard Dutremble said he’d received word that the Legislature had found enough cash to restore state funding to current year levels – in York County, to the original $2.4 million.
The restoration of $400,000 was good news at a time when expenses are increasing for everyone: Electricity and other utility costs are up, as are insurance, food costs and other regular expenses – for individuals, families, businesses and governments, including counties. The county’s electricity costs are poised to increase by about $600,000 in the fiscal year that begins July 1, following the expiration of a multi-year contract.
County Manager Greg Zinser said that the current way the state pays a share of county jail expenses that began with the 2008 jail consolidation bill “is a band aid approach.”
“Because (the state funds) are contingent on special appropriations; it is not a guaranteed, predictable source…. It is wholly dependent on the will of the Legislature,” he said.
In the fiscal year that begins July 1, the county will contribute $12.5 million to run York County Jail, in addition to the $2.4 million state contribution.
The budget board will deal with that matter in their upcoming meetings, with times and dates to be announced. With the funds restored, the overall proposed budget increase is poised to be slightly more than 9 percent – about 4 percent less than the 13.64 percent increase in the prior year, even with a county appropriation of $1.85 million for the York County Recovery Center, which is poised to open gradually in late 2026 or early 2027.
The budget includes one new position in the facilities department; it is a full-time post, but the worker would not be hired until halfway through the fiscal year.
It also includes a new, $20,000 allocation to aid a York County Community Action transportation program aimed at providing bus rides for senior citizens and veterans to medical appointments and grocery shopping in 13-14 York County communities, including Sanford. Another piece of the program provides rides to medical appointments for residents through volunteer drivers and some YCCAC buses, primarily to those who do not qualify for MaineCare. The allocation, said YCCAC Transportation Director Tom Reinauer, would draw $40,000 in federal funds.
Commissioners approved the request in a 3-2 vote, with commissioners Donna Ring, Robert Andrews and Justin Chenette in favor and Richard Clark and Dutremble opposed.
Clark said he respects the work YCCAC does and what they’re trying to do, but not the process for approving such requests. He noted that a dozen years ago, York County removed social service requests from the budget – a move Clark said he wasn’t happy with. The question now, he said, is how commissioners determine who among the needy get funding.
The post Restored Funds Ease Increase to Proposed County Budget appeared first on Sanford Springvale News.
