New Youth Detention Facility Clears State Budget Committee
$42 million for a state facility to replace Lincoln Hills passes Joint Finance Committee.
A replacement for the Lincoln Hill School for Boys — which has had a long and troubled history — has passed the Legislature’s budget committee. The legislation would allow around $42 million in borrowing on the state’s part to fund a new facility.
Funding for a replacement for the Lincoln County-based facility passed both chambers of the Legislature unanimously last month, but an amendment made in the Assembly required the measure to go through the Joint Committee on Finance.
State Sen. Kathleen Bernier, R-Chippewa Falls, read a statement during the hearing from state Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma. Felzkowski is the author of the bill and a member of the committee, but was not present for the vote.
“I want to especially thank the brave correction officers, teachers and nurses working at Lincoln Hills who engaged with us both throughout the budget process and through committee hearings on this,” Felzkowski said in the statement. “This bill would not have gotten to this point without your dedication.”
The Assembly’s amendment to the bill also requires approval from a local governing body wherever the state decides to build the replacement facility.
Because the Assembly changed the bill, the adjusted version of the legislation still needs to pass the Senate again before it heads for Gov. Tony Evers‘ desk.
Evers signaled his support for the measure in a tweet last week.
Evers later moved back that deadline to July 2021. Despite continued concerns regarding the state of the prison, the lack of a ready replacement means the facility remains open.
Evers’ Department of Corrections had called for building a new facility in Outagamie County, but in 2020, GOP lawmakers held back spending on the replacement while approving funding for other youth facilities throughout the state.
The Senate voted last month to approve the Lincoln Hills replacement funding. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, initially said the measure passing his chamber was unlikely, but he relented after pushback from fellow party members, including former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch.
Listen to the WPR report here.
Lincoln Hills replacement funding passes Legislature’s budget committee was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
More about the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Facilities
- Future of Lincoln Hills Remains In Limbo - Isiah Holmes - Apr 12th, 2024
- MKE County: County Youth In State Prisons Declining Again - Graham Kilmer - Jan 15th, 2024
- Legislative Committee Okays $6 Million for 2nd Juvenile Facility - Devin Blake - Oct 1st, 2023
- Some Progress, Still Problems at Lincoln Hills - Isiah Holmes - Jul 9th, 2023
- Plats and Parcels: Republicans Approve Gov. Evers’ Allocation of $32.6 Million More To Build Milwaukee Youth Prison - Jeramey Jannene - Jun 4th, 2023
- Milwaukee Youth Prison Costs Grow 71% - Jeramey Jannene - Mar 1st, 2023
- Eyes on Milwaukee: Council Approves New Youth Prison in Milwaukee - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 17th, 2023
- Eyes on Milwaukee: New Youth Prison Wins Key Endorsement - Jeramey Jannene - Jan 10th, 2023
- Eyes on Milwaukee: New Youth Prison Gains Plan Commission Approval - Jeramey Jannene - Dec 12th, 2022
- Problems, Staffing Shortages Still Plague Lincoln Hills - Isiah Holmes - Dec 10th, 2022
Read more about Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake Facilities here