Cumberland County jail running ‘abnormally’; staffing and outside‑housing declines reshape jail budget

County finance staff told the Cumberland County Finance Committee on July 13 that the Cumberland County jail is operating “abnormally,” with significantly reduced inmate counts, falling outside contracts and continuing corrections staffing shortages that materially changed revenue and expense patterns for the current year and the coming budget.

Alex Kimball, deputy manager of finance and administration, summarized the problems: “It is running down. I think the latest number was we are down 60 corrections officers,” Kimball said. He told the committee that wages and payroll lines were coming in well under budget because shifts were not being filled; at the same time revenues tied to housing outside inmates have fallen or disappeared, producing a large positive variance to the current-year fund balance while creating near‑term uncertainty for future years.

Why it matters: The county typically budgets to the jail as if operations are normal; staff said they are keeping contract positions and budgeted full‑time wages in place to avoid creating a…