The Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority agreed Jan. 9 to move the jail’s unallocated fund balance to a fund for capital projects. The authority also voted to pay off the balance on the HVAC rooftop units this month, from that fund.

Paying off the units ahead of time will save thousands in interest, and moving the unallocated fund balance will not affect the tax commitment for the jail.

The payments already scheduled for the HVAC units are expected to be added to the capital project balance next year.

The authority voted to adopt the 20-year capital improvement fund the finance committee developed, and adopt the annual funding for fiscal year 2019, including moving the unallocated fund balance. Treasurer Carrie Kipfer said paying off the HVAC units will use up much of the unassigned surplus. However, much of that will be replaced within six years. The cost per year in the operations budget to pay back the loan, $121,935, will not be spent because the loan will be paid off. Kipfer said the plan is to move the funds in the years to come. There is $991,428 in the unassigned balance and $326,613 already earmarked for capital projects. Together, those figures bring the capital budget close to what had been planned for FY 2019. The cost to pay off the system is $664,815.

In addition, in FY 2019, three vehicles will have to be replaced, which will also come out of capital funds, Col. James Bailey said.

A check for $194,000 was sent to the jail in supplemental funding. Kipfer argued these funds should be given to the counties, which have expenses related to the jail, including transportation, Maine Pretrial Services, Addiction Resource Center, and other programs, before any extra is sent back to the jail, as is typical for checks of this type.

Sheriff Todd Brackett raised a philosophical concern, that especially with a new legislature, the future of additional funding is uncertain, and it might be preferable to keep the funds in the jail’s coffers. A motion to have the counties submit letters with their expenditures was passed, with Brackett abstaining, otherwise unanimously.

Complicating the question was that the funds were released for a budget two years ago, when the jail posted a deficit budget, even though it did not expect to expend every allocation in the budget, largely due to staff shortages. So the jail did not go into the red, even though the budget showed a deficit. Sheriff Joel Merry said he was unable to speak to the issue during legislative discussions because he felt he had an ethical issue.

Bailey said staffing is improving with three new corrections officers being hired, although one officer is seeking a new job. Bailey said he learned about that on Facebook. Certain jails, such as Cumberland, are still paying more than Two Bridges.