MISHICOT, WI (WTAQ) – Governor Scott Walker is open to the idea of closing Green Bay Correctional.
During a stop in Mishicot on Friday, Walker said he would support the move if it was cost effective.
Green Bay Representative David Steffen has proposed closing the facility, which has operated on land along Highway 172 in Allouez since 1898.
Steffen suggests redeveloping the property and building a new prison in either Brown County or a neighboring county.
The prison currently houses 1,094 inmates, which is well above the designed capacity of 749.
If the current facility is closed, Walker says it is necessary to ensure “there is a reasonable plan to use the proceeds from the sale and development of that site, once it was removed, in a way that could more than pay for the capital cost of building another site.”
The governor also stated that new correctional facilities allow for more effective management.
Steffen is expected to unveil his full proposal within the next month, ahead of this summer’s vote on a new two-year state budget.
He has stated it would likely take four or five years to close the current building and construct a new one.
