Agenda Item Request
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Approve the 2026/2027 Jail Budget to Exceed the 4% grown limitation factor.
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Background and Purpose of Request
Counties live by a 4% growth limitation factor, which dictates what counties can increase above the base assessment level.
The FY27 jail budget has been extremely difficult to budget for the coming year. Increases in food, utilities, medical and personnel in addition to having both labor unions negotiating new contracts effective July 2025, has created the perfect storm. The County Commissioners have also followed the actions of Federal Immigration within the State of Maine and have monthly received public testimony encouraging the ending of the Federal Marshal’s contract. In late January 2026, Federal Immigration removed their inmates from the County Jail.
The need for the County Commissioners to exceed the 4% CAP is needed to address the loss of federal inmate revenue at the Jail for the coming fiscal year. The topic was widely talked about during the Finance Committee meetings as well as at a number of County Commissioner meetings. The County finds itself in extraordinary circumstance where unfunded state mandates and the loss of federal funding have significantly impacted the jail budget, leaving the County Commissioners no other option to run the jail appropriately. The budget recommendation from the Finance Committee included the increase in jail funding for 2026/2027. This item is brought forth for the County Commissioners to vote to exceed the growth limitation CAP. The County Commissioner directed Jail Budget is at 25.05%, exceeding the 4% CAP.
Funding Amount and Source: County Warrant & Unassigned Fund Balance