AUBURN — Androscoggin County Sheriff Eric Samson and county commissioners shared their jail funding concerns with members of the county legislative delegation Wednesday night. 

The delegation did not make any promises or provide much assurance about the looming crisis during the commission workshop. While there were no solutions, Beth Bell, chairwoman of the commission, said the dialogue was helpful.

A solution to the problem isn’t that simple, especially finding a plan that will satisfy all 16 counties. Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon, called it the most challenging issue he has ever dealt with in the Legislature.

“It’s not a party-line issue. Every town and every county have different opinions on where they should be,” Rep. Jeffrey Timberlake, R-Turner, said.

Nine of the 20 members of the county delegation attended the workshop. One of the nine was Randall Greenwood, R-Wales, who is also a county commissioner.

Maine jails were consolidated in 2008, with funding split between the counties and the state. County funding was capped at 2009 levels, with the state making up the difference.

Most everyone agrees that shared control of the jails has not worked. Costs have risen and the state Board of Corrections, formed to oversee the jails in 2008, does not have enough members for a quorum. Gov. Paul LePage has said he will not throw money at the problem.

The question is whether the counties regain control of the jails or cede all control to the state. If the county gets control, there is no guarantee the state will continue to provide funding. The elimination of state funding would result in a massive tax increase to county taxpayers.

In Androscoggin County, the funding shortfall could reach $2 million if the state cuts off all funding.

“Whether you agree with him or you don’t agree with him, it doesn’t make any difference,” Timberlake said. “He’s the executive for the state of Maine right now. He’s your governor. He’s made the determination that these are your options. We have to find something that will fit within his guidelines or it gets vetoed. And if it gets vetoed, it probably won’t get overridden.”

“If it gets vetoed you may be in a worse position,” Rep. Michel Lajoie, D-Lewiston, added.

Timberlake, who sits on the Legislature’s Appropriations Committee, provided the commission with some insight on the thinking in Augusta. Depending on what is decided, the committee must determine where the money will come from in the state budget.

“Be careful what you ask for,” Timberlake said. “Up and down the halls I’m hearing that there are bills to return the jails back to the county. The governor has said to me personally, ‘I don’t care what you do. The county will have them back or the state is going to run them. You pick your pill, but we’re not going to continue at the same path that we’re at.'”

Samson discussed his department’s financial needs and all the cost-saving measures his department has undertaken, including having 120 inmates out on pretrial contracts and other alternative sentencing to ease overcrowding. That’s 120 less inmates at a jail that is above its maximum capacity.

“We are maximizing our opportunities with alternative sentencing, taking people who don’t necessarily belong in the facility, but are being held accountable for things they did in society,” Samson said.

He pleaded for continued state funding if the county gets control.

“There is talk of a soft landing,” Timberlake said. “What they mean by a soft landing to me is we won’t cut you off at the knees. We’ll only cut you off at the waist.”