The GOP-controlled Joint Finance Committee plans to approve a $2.5 billion capital budget that would close the prison in Green Bay by 2029 and include many of the changes to the state prison system that Dem Gov. Tony Evers had proposed, the co-chairs said today.
The committee also will raise an additional $200 million for transportation through “modest” fee increases, Co-chair Mark Born said. The guv and lawmakers reached a deal on several areas of the budget that included additional revenue for transportation. But they didn’t announce how that would be accomplished.
Born, R-Beaver Dam, fellow Co-chair Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and other GOP members of the committee addressed reporters this morning before the committee began its final push on the state budget.
The deal between Evers and legislative leaders includes $1.2 billion for education and childcare, along with $1.5 billion in tax cuts.
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That package didn’t address the prison system.
Born said the committee will “right size and innovate” in Corrections to make sure the state can close the Green Bay prison. Evers also called for the move in his budget as part of a plan to revamp the prison system. It includes converting Waupun into a vocational village that would focus on job training.
Born said the prisons plan will be “very similar” to what Evers proposed, but didn’t get into specifics.
“We will provide funding for planning necessary to do infrastructure changes in the future in the Department of Corrections,” Born said.
He added work on the prison system will play out over several budgets.
At the beginning of today’s hearing, Marklein said committee Republicans planned to introduce one motion that would cover remaining budget topics.
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