The $6.3 million Two Bridges Regional Jail budget recommended by the Lincoln Sagadahoc Jail Authority was approved by Sagadahoc County Commissioners Thursday, June 14.

Lincoln County Commissioners followed with their final approval at their meeting Tuesday morning.

The amount the counties will be responsible for is $4.2 million; it was first reported that the amount from taxes would be $4.7 million.

As a result of a slow hiring process at the jail, the amount of carry over was increased from $200,000 to $650,000 thus reducing the amount to be raised from taxation by $450,000.

With a 57/43 split, Lincoln County's share of the budget is $2.4 million and Sagdahoc's share is $1.8 million.

The 2007 overall budget increased 15.54 percent. However, because of the boarding revenue, the taxpayers from both counties will see a decrease, Lincoln will see a decrease of about 13.3 percent, and Sagadahoc will see a decrease of about 11.8 percent.

Emergency Management Agency Director, Tim Pellerin told the commissioners there were 85 individual applications submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for damages as a result of the Patriot's Day storm amounting to $180,000.

Although FEMA representatives are no longer in town, residents have until mid July to report damages.

"They just need to call the FEMA 1-800 number," Pellerin said.

The FEMA toll free number is 1-800-621-3362 seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The former Lincoln County Jail sign-making machine will be on permanent loan to the Two Bridges Regional Jail industry program.

The condition of the loan will be that the towns in Lincoln County will be charged a small surcharge for the service, and the towns will provide or pay for the material used for their requests. The jail cannot make a profit from the towns in the county, according to the commissioners.

The commissioners accepted an invitation from the Lincoln County Historical Association to attend an exhibition on June 23 at the Lincoln County Museum and Old Jail, entitled "Ladies and Lads in Love."

The exhibit will include rituals of courtship and marriage during the years 1860-1910, and features over one hundred items such as a courting couch, wedding dresses, fans, flowers, and newspapers.

In other business, the commissioners:

Accepted a bid from J.S. McCarthy to print 5,000 county maps at a cost of about $3,000.

Approved a request from the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department to buy ammunition from T.J. Morris at a cost of $6,000.

Authorized Teresa Grenier, a county communications officer, to take classes to receive a certificate, and further her education.

Appointed Samuel Morris of Boothbay Harbor to the advisory Committee on Economic Development (CED) in a 2-1 vote, with Commissioner Kenneth Honey voting in the negative

Chief Deputy Ken Mason told the commissioners Lincoln County had 32 inmates, as of Tuesday, at the two Bridges Regional Jail, seven inmates on either diversion programs or being monitored, and 10 inmates in the Volunteer of America program.

Sheriff Todd Brackett has told the commissioners many times he is a strong supporter of diversion programs for inmates that qualify. It not only saves the county money, it also helps the inmates and their families through difficult situations.