Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority approved a deficit budget for FY 18/19 of $352,116 May 30. Funds rolled over from this year’s budget and reserves will solve the deficit, with no additional money needed from the counties, officials said.

This is the second straight year TBRJ has approved a deficit budget, with most of the deficit again expected to be eliminated because Two Bridges still does not have, and does not expect to have, full staffing.

Revenue projections were also, at least temporarily, lower than anticipated because Penobscot County has been unable to commit to boarding its inmates. This is largely because the state had not approved appropriations for county jails. Later in the evening on May 30, jail funding was approved, but the issue still needed the full Legislature to vote in a special session now expected in early June.

The Authority also approved a $795,000 agreement with Oxford County to board its inmates for the year ending June 30, 2019. The deal puts no limit on the number of inmates. Oxford will be responsible for its boarders’ medical, dental and psychiatric care.

The Authority also agreed to buy a used vehicle from Wiscasset Ford, and to put out to bid the sale of two older vehicles.