Despite record crowding and an increased reliance on overtime at the jails, county administrators will not seek $1.17 million in state money this year to expand the county's two jails.

Robin Harting, superintendent of the county's detention centers, told officials from the state Department of Budget and Management last month that the County Council would not commit at this time to the $70.9 million project - 45 percent of which would be covered by the state. She then withdrew her request for the first installment of the state money.

"I couldn't in good conscious ask the state for money in fiscal 2010," she said, explaining...