Dane County Board supervisors are scheduled to vote Thursday on providing an additional $27.7 million for a new jail, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. The funds would cover the cost of the sole project bid received by the county in November.
The additional money would facilitate plans for construction of a six-story, 825-bed tower downtown, now projected to cost around $207 million. The project has faced a number of pauses, delays, and cost increases since 2019.
Preventing further delays would save the county financial risks and protect inmates, as the current jail at the City-County Building lacks the programming and medical services necessary to make it humane and safe.
The finished project would consolidate the county’s jail facilities in the new tower and the Public Safety Building. The sole bid from Miron Construction came in at $27.7 million over the county’s expectations, and while Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and others signaled a wish to put the project out to bid a second time, the board has rebuffed those calls.
Thursday’s vote will require three-fourths of the board’s support to pass.
