Morning Sentinel
Commissioners say adding beds to new jail makes economic sense
By ALAN CROWELL
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 11/15/2007

SKOWHEGAN -- With a new $30 million jail less than a year from completion, commissioners are already considering adding another 60 beds.

The extra beds -- an additional housing pod -- would cost roughly $4 million, but the money wouldn't come from Somerset County taxpayers, who have already seen their taxes rise significantly due to the jail project.

Instead, another county would pay for the construction and, in return, get additional capacity at a bargain price at a time when jails across the state are filled to over-capacity.

Androscoggin Sheriff Guy Desjardins, whose jail was over capacity by roughly 30 inmates a few weeks ago, said the idea has strong appeal.

"Economically, it makes all the sense in the world," said Desjardins.

Desjardins first heard of the idea at a Maine County Commissioners Association meeting from Somerset Commissioner Philip Roy. Roy said the possibility of building the extra pod is still in the discussion phase, but he said at least some counties seem genuinely interested.

Androscoggin does not have any immediate need for new space, although Desjardins said it is not too soon to thinking about more beds.

After opening in 1990, Androscoggin's jail is now at or near capacity with expansion at the present site in downtown Auburn difficult if not impossible.

Desjardins said his county is lucky that it doesn't have to board out prisoners at other county jails.

"For us to stick our head in the sand and say we are good for another 20 years, that is not reality," said Desjardins.

And once the county does have to start sending its prisoners away, he said, costs could mount quickly.

If he were boarding 30 prisoners a day at $100 an inmate, for example, Desjardins said, his county would be paying roughly $1 million a year, not including transportation costs.

Compared with that scenario, or going to voters to raise the $30 million needed to build a new facility, Desjardins said buying additional capacity at another facility like Somerset County's new jail looks cheap.

Roy said that at a time when county jails are under fire -- Gov. John Baldacci has proposed the state take over county jails and create a consolidated corrections system including both prisons and jails -- counties need to be giving regional cooperation more thought.

"We need to act as a unit. All the counties need to start thinking and working together," said Roy.

The new Somerset County Jail will have the infrastructure necessary to support new beds, he said.

Any county that wants additional bed space would have to pay for building the new pod, but it would avoid much of the other costs associated with a new jail, including adding utilities, buying land and space for booking and medical services.

Somerset County could save money by sharing the overall cost of operations with another partner.

Roy said the idea is only in the discussion phase and he said he is still calculating costs.

In the long run, he said, regional approaches like the one Somerset County is considering simply make sense.

"It is a lot easier for two counties to operate a facility than one alone," said Roy.

Alan Crowell -- 474-9534, Ext. 342

acrowell@centralmaine.com

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donn of Skowhegan, ME
Nov 15, 2007 6:47 PM
If Androscoggin county or any other county does agree to $4,000,000 for this new pod who will pay the upkeep on it for the next 30 years? Who will be paying the extra guards? Its going to be next November before another county will vote on a bond for this money,in the mean time is Roy going to have the construction company start this pod? This SOMERSET County jail is becoming the state of Maine County jail,No County is going to agree to invest money in this jail without having some say in how its run. Think of the infighting. Maybe our Commissioners need to think the moves they make and not just jump on what could be a BAD IDEA. Though when you have Dollar signs in your eyes maybe its hard to see things clear. As for Riders question,I dont think it does help the county,but remember this,its all about $$$$$ and the $4 mill Mr Roy will have to work with if this goes through.report abuse
Working_towards a_healthier_Maine of Meddybemps, ME
Nov 15, 2007 6:13 PM
Rider you are dead on with your question!report abuse
Rider of Skowhegan, ME
Nov 15, 2007 3:24 PM
I do not agree with the Governors plan, but do wonder why this jail that we are building reqiures so many beds now. I thought the total bed requirement was around 80 and we were building extra room for the future and to house other counties inmates and charge those counties which will pay our debt service or at least help pay it. Now we are looking at building another pod and having another County pay for it. How does this help our cash flow to pay the debt service if we take away the source of income from charging these counties for bed space? report abuse
Working_towards a_healthier_Maine of Meddybemps, ME
Nov 15, 2007 10:56 AM
Phil - thanks for the comments. I feel that any change to the county prison should be placed in front of the voters before any agreement of this magnitude is signed.

I do not trust Bacldacci nor his merry henchmen, they remind me of the Mafia. He has done little if anything to better this state. Maine is on the verge of bankruptcy and they do not know how to control spending.

IMPEACH BALDACCI.report abuse

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