ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The future of Green Bay Correctional Institution became less clear last week after Governor Tony Evers vetoed the 2029 closing date in the new state budget.
“Green Bay Correctional will close,” Evers said on Tuesday. “It’s not like we could close it tomorrow and say, ‘Okay, where are all these people gonna go?’ We have to have all that in place, simple as that.”
Evers says just circling a date on the calendar is ineffective. He worries there are a lot of things that need to happen before closing down the more than century-old facility — and there isn’t a strong enough bipartisan plan in place.
“We’ve had trouble with the Republicans in the Legislature, in particular, to determine how we’re going to do that,” said Evers.
$15 million is included in the new state budget to develop plans to eventually close the prison. Republicans, however, say erasing the date also removes all accountability on getting the job done.
“I’m just profoundly disappointed that the governor wasn’t willing to accept a goal, a deadline — something for the people to really grasp onto,” said State Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard.
Steffen says there are two plans on the table that could lead to the prison’s closure.
One is to build a brand new maximum security facility. Evers has dismissed this option.
The other, more likely option includes expanding Stanley Correctional Institution, reforming Waupun Correctional Institution and turning Lincoln Hills youth prison into an adult facility.
“We are on borrowed time with that facility, we need to get going. By taking out a deadline, taking out a goal, we’ve now failed the people, we’ve failed those employees, we’ve failed the inmates,” he said.
GBCI opened in 1898. A 2020 report deemed the facility unsafe and inhumane for inmates and employees alike — including due to a mice infestation.
Removal of the closure date also draws concern locally.
“Not having a date set for closure impacts the village of Allouez. We don’t know what we have to do and by when we have to do it,” said Allouez Village President Jim Rafter, who expressed his disappointed about the governor’s veto.
Rafter says redeveloping the area would bring great economic benefits to all of Brown County — with a dream to turn it into a multi-use area for new businesses and homes.
“We can make that a very special place in our community — one that will make the people in Allouez and the state of Wisconsin very proud,” Rafter said.
Despite no official closing date, Rafter says in his mind, the goal is still the end of 2029.
