AUGUSTA – Some Maine lawmakers, expressing concern they could be hemmed in between the governor’s plan for a state takeover of county jails and a competing proposal from counties that’s not yet been developed, say they want additional ideas for cutting costs.

“We need something more than X and Y,” said Rep. Anne Haskell, D-Portland. “That’s just not the position that would be helpful to us.”

Corrections Commissioner Martin Magnusson says there are several working groups looking at the governor’s proposal, and he expects a master plan to be completed early next year.

“What would this look like if we did it,” Magnusson said. “That’s what we’re doing with the state perspective so it would be a much more detailed plan.”

The governor’s plan would close four county jails – Oxford, Franklin, Piscataquis and Waldo – and state officials say it could allow for better programs for those with mental health and substance abuse problems and improved facilities for women.

They also suggest consolidating county jails within the state corrections system could alleviate overcrowding while reducing expenditures.

According to the administration, the state prison system and a number of counties with older facilities don’t have enough room to house inmates while other counties have empty beds.

Magnusson said while the initial assessment was from “30,000 feet,” he believes a more detailed study will show significant savings by merging the two systems.

Issues that have been raised include transfer of property and borrowing agreements, transportation, pay scales and layoffs.

“I believe that we’re going to see we can’t continue on the same track we’re on,” Magnusson said.

“The bottom line is seeing how we can stop the trains we’re both on, primarily the property tax burden,” Magnusson said.

Meeting Tuesday, members of the Legislature’s Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voiced interest in examining a variety of options, not just one advanced by the governor and a competing one drawn up by a consultant hired by the counties’ boards of commissioners.

Rep. Richard Sykes, R-Harrison, said he was reserving judgment.

“The abominable snowman from 30,000 feet looks real to me,” he said. “But you’ve got to take a close look at this stuff.”

According to the Baldacci administration, whose figures remain subject to debate, unifying 15 county jails with the state Corrections Department could reduce overall costs for housing prisoners by $10 million in the first year and by almost $38 million by 2015.

The administration says over the last three years the cost for counties to operate their jails has increased about 12 percent annually while the cost to operate the state prison system has increased about 6 percent per year.