Knox County Jail will lay off some staff and no longer house long-term prisoners as the county deals with financial issues.

Knox County Commissioners voted unanimously on Monday to move those prisoners to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset as part of a new partnership that begins on Jan. 1.

Knox County Jail will then be turned into a holding facility run by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.

In a statement, County Administrator Amber Christie said the costs of running Knox County Jail has risen in recent years and was projected to cost about $7 million to run in 2026.