The time is nearing when Douglas County commissioners may have to consider expanding the county jail.

“You will confront that issue this next year,” County Administrator Craig Weinaug told commissioners Monday. He said Sheriff Ken McGovern is now determining what will be needed in an expansion.

The subject of an expansion to the jail and of staff was raised as commissioners began discussing Weinaug’s 2008 budget proposal. The proposal calls for an increase of just under one mill to support his spending recommendations. A mill is $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Part of the reason for the increase is McGovern’s request to hire two people to start a “re-entry,” or transitional service program, to help prisoners leaving jail. The program would help them re-enter society and reduce the chances that they will find themselves back in jail.

McGovern also wants to hire two jail officers.

Expansion of the jail facility is not in the proposed 2008 budget but it is an issue that is ahead, McGovern and Weinaug said.

The 196-bed jail opened in 1999. In June, there were an average of 175 inmates held there each day, Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Dillon said.

While a new re-entry transitional service program might reduce the number of repeat offenders, it would not affect the increasing number of first-time offenders entering the jail and increasing the need for expansion, Assistant County Administrator Pam Madl said.

Commissioners mainly listened to requests from McGovern and others concerning the 2008 budget. They will make final budget decisions later. More budget discussions will take place at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday in the courthouse, 1100 Mass.

On another budget matter, commissioners said that they supported funding economic development initiatives but did not specifically say how much that funding should be. Weinaug has recommended that $388,500 be set aside for preparing a potential industrial development site on the west or east side of East Hills Business Park. Preparation would include drainage improvements and roadways designed for big truck access as well as other infrastructure. But commissioners were not ready to commit the money to a specific site.

Commissioners also indicated they support funding, in conjunction with the city of Lawrence, that would prepare the former spec building in East Hills to become a bioscience incubator over a 10-year period. The budget calls for setting aside $125,000 in 2008.

Weinaug’s budget proposal calls for an increase in the mill levy from 30.013 mills, which supports the 2007 budget, to 30.751 mills for 2008. To eliminate any tax increase, commissioners would have to reject more than $800,000 in optional budget increases.

Concerning a nonbudget matter, commissioners unanimously approved placing Eudora Emergency Medical Service under the Eudora City Fire Department. The Eudora City Council approved the move last week. Fire Chief Randy Ates will handle EMS daily management duties. The move will take effect within two weeks, Weinaug said.