ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – There was a win Tuesday night for those who want to build a replacement for Green Bay Correctional Institution.
The Joint Finance Committee voted to include $5 million in the budget to start the replacement process for the 121-year-old prison.
The money would be used to purchase land to build the replacement, put in utilities, and put out a request for building proposals.
This isn’t a for sure thing until Governor Tony Evers signs his budget, but supporters, like State Rep. David Steffen tells FOX 11 it is a step in the right direction.
“This evening we took a great leap forward towards closing the most dangerous place in Wisconsin.”
Steffen has been pushing a GBCI replacement plan for the past three years. He says taxpayers would save $150 million over 20 years if a new prison is built.
“Because GBCI requires $200 million in repairs and is at a staffing level that it used to have in the 1800s, it has never taken advantage of the automation that exists in new facilities. It also has more staff than it needs.”
“One step forward after three years of hard work is a great thing to have happen,” said Jim Rafter, Allouez Village President.
Rafter is excited to hear the village is one step closer in possibly redeveloping the land GBCI sits on. he tells FOX 11 a study has shown the village could collect more than $1 million annually in tax revenue from the property.
“It means people are listening, people are thinking about it and they’re looking into the real possibility.”
Evers did not include anything in his budget proposal in relation to replacing GBCI. Although, he has indicated something needs to be done.
“Clearly, we have a facility there that is going to be difficult to continue to use because of its age and inadequacy, but at the same time, we’re looking at criminal justice reform where there might actually be fewer people in prison.”
Steffen says keeping the issue in front of Governor Evers is the next step.
“I’m going to be working very closely with him in the coming days and weeks and hopefully get him in a place where he feels comfortable with this decision.”
Steffen says it’s his goal to get the money to build a new prison in the next two-year budget. He says one estimate puts the cost at about $230 million.
Steffen says it is also his goal to close GBCI by 2024.
A site for a new prison has not been picked out. That decision is up to Governor Evers, the Department of Administration, and the Department of Corrections.
Steffen says an ideal site would be within 20 miles of the current GBCI facility.
