Two Bridges Regional Jail may be one of the beneficiaries of a bill that will appropriate $4.8 million in state funds over two years to support the county jail system. The bill, LD 1614, passed a preliminary vote on Wednesday, March 23 in the Maine House of Representatives, according to information at www.legislature.maine.gov. The bill now goes to the Senate for concurrence.

However, three House members representing Lincoln County, including Jeffrey Hanley (Republican, DIstrict 87, which includes Alna, Pittston, Randolph and Wiscasset), Jeffrey Pierce, (Republican, District 53, which includes both Sagadahoc and Lincoln County towns of Arrowsic, Dresden, Georgetown, Phippsburg, Richmond and Woolwich), and Deborah Sanderson, (Republican, District 88 whose district includes Chelsea, Jefferson, Nobleboro and Whitefield), voted against the measure.  Every other House member representing Lincoln and Sagadahoc counties voted in favor.

The vote in the House was 118-24.

According to Lincoln County Administrator John O’Connell, the shortfall at Two Bridges was caused by a nine-percent drop in state funding in a single year, which caused the jail to lay off staff and cut services.

The bill faces stiffer opposition in the Republican-led Senate, and a possible gubernatorial veto. Even if it survives these hurdles, funding may still be declined, as it was in the last session, if the committee decides that the funds are not available.