Restored funds ease increase to proposed York County budget

The restoration of the $400,000 in state funding was good news at a time when expenses are increasing for everyone

[ Contributed Story ]

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 York County Budget Committee – the next step in the approval process – 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, York County Commissioners learned the existing $2.4 million state jail allotment would be reduced by more than $400,000. Commissioners added the figure to the county 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.

**YORK COUNTY MANAGER** Greg Zinser, and York County Commissioners Richard Clark, Robert Andrews, Chair Richard Dutremble, Donna Ring and Justin Chenette. | *Katherine Derby Photo*

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It is budget season in Maine – for counties that operate on a fiscal year, for municipalities, and the state Legislature. And while York County Government is in good financial condition, still, every penny counts, and county officials say, predictable receipt of revenue helps.

The restoration of the $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.

York County Government’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.

York 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,” said Zinser.

York County Commissioners – and the Maine County Commissioners Association, among others, had hope for LD 2232, which would have provided a regular amount of annual state jail funding to the counties, but, Dutremble noted, while legislators he spoke with said they realize a solution should be found, that apparently won’t happen this time around.

In the fiscal year that begins July 1, York County will contribute $12.5 million to run York County Jail, in addition to the $2.4 million state contribution.

And because it wasn’t until several days after commissioners transmitted the spending plan to the York County Budget Committee that it was learned the $400,000 in state funds would be forthcoming, 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 four 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 municipalities. Another piece of the program provides rides to medical appointments for York County 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 down $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, with Richard Clark and Dutremble voting against.

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.

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