BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Brown County is interested in building a new juvenile facility to help fill the need when the state’s two youth prisons close their doors.
However, the county wants some questions answered before making a firm commitment.
Brown is one of six counties in the state, and the only one in Northeast Wisconsin, to submit a letter of interest to the state for having a juvenile facility for less serious offenders.
“Keeping them close to home is a benefit,” said Pat Evans, a Brown County Supervisor.
Wisconsin Act 185 calls for two, state-run, Type-1 facilities to be built for serious juvenile offenders. Governor Tony Evers announced in March that he’d like them built in Hortonia, in Outagamie County, and Milwaukee.
New regional, county-run, facilities would house less-serious youth offenders. Brown, Dane, Fond du Lac, La Crosse, Milwaukee and Racine Counties, along with the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council submitted letters of interest for one of those centers. However, Fond du Lac has since withdrawn its interest.
Brown County’s letter says it would consider a new construction, stand-alone facility, near the county’s jail. The new facility would include 24 to 32 beds for both males and females. The county says it should also have room for 13 youth offenders from other counties.
Brown County officials declined to comment on its interest in a new juvenile facility. However, FOX 11 talked briefly on the phone with Health and Human Services Executive Director Erik Pritzl. He says many questions need to be answered before the county moves its interest to a firm commitment.
“The question is are we going to be breaking even or making money on the service that we’re providing?” said Evans.
Evans says it makes sense for Brown County to have a facility, considering it has the most youth offenders in Northeast Wisconsin. Some of his biggest concerns deal with money.
“I’m fairly confident we can get a great amount, almost all the money from the state to build the facility,” said Evans. “That is a one-time cost. Now for the next 25 years, so-to-speak, there is all that operating cost.”
Right now, Act 185 calls for counties to split $40 million to build the new facilities. However, Governor Evers’ budget, if approved, would increase that amount to $100 million.
Brown County’s letter of interest did not say how much money it would need for its facility. Milwaukee says it needs $41.4 million. Racine says its facility would require $38 million. La Crosse says it would need $18-$20 million.
Applications for counties to receive grant money for new juvenile facilities are due June 30th.
The Joint Committee on Finance is supposed to come up with a plan for July 1st. However, there is a bill being considered to push that date back to October 1st.
