STATE OF MAINE
QFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
1 STATE HOUSE STATION
AUGUSTA, MAINE
04333,0001

 

Paul R. LePage

GOVERNOR

22 April 2016

The 127th Legislature of the State of Maine
State House
Augusta, ME

Dear Honorable Members of the 127?l Legislature:

Under the authority vested in me by Article IV, Part Third, Section 2 of the Constitution
of the State of Maine, 1 am hereby Vetoing LB 1614 ?Resolve, To Provide Funding fOr the
County Jail Operations Fund.?

if the counties are responsible for operating the jails, then the counties should also be
responsible for paying the costs of the iails. Currently. county funding fer operation of the jails
is capped. 1f counties spend above the cap, which they invariably do, then the State is asked to
provide supplemental funding to cover the difference. For too long, state taxpayers have had to
pick up the tab for. the cost of the county jails because, due to the cap, there is no incentive for
 antics  rein in jail Spending. In order to avoid my veto, a bill providing 2 .
 (to the jails  provision doing- away with the Von?cennty thinning 
jails, This bill does not contain such a provision.

For this reason, I return LD 1614 unsigned and vetoed. I strongly urge the Legislature to
sustain it.



Sincerely,

Que. 

Paul R. LePage
Governor

 

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