Somerset County v. Dep’t of Corr.
Annotate this CaseSomerset County receives income generated by boarding federal prisons at the Somerset County Jail (SCJ). That income is used to support the jail budget. During fiscal year 2013, the County received more federal boarding revenue than anticipated. Without consulting with or receiving approval from the former State of Maine Board of Corrections, the County applied a portion of that surplus income to debt service for the cost to construct the SCJ facility. In response, the Board correspondingly reduced the amount of the County’s corrections funding from other sources. The County appealed. The superior court vacated the Board’s decision to withhold funding, concluding that pertinent legislation did not authorize the Board to adjust payments to the County as a result of the County’s unauthorized use of surplus federal boarding income. The Supreme Judicial Court vacated the superior court’s judgment and remanded for entry of judgment in favor of the Department of Corrections, as the party substituted for the Board, holding that the Board acted within its authority when it took action affecting the funding otherwise due to the County.
Court Description: Corrected March 1, 2016 (Errata Sheet)
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