Caught between diminishing inmate conditions and budget concerns, Dane County officials find themselves slowing to yet another standstill on plans to move forward with a jail renovation project that has dragged on for years.
Supervisors from a county board subcommittee—feeling pressure to improve standard of living for prisoners—sparred with cost-concerned representatives from the county executive and sheriff’s offices once again Tuesday, the groups at odds on whether to act on renovation plans currently on the table or to continue exploring options.
Josh Wescott, chief of staff for County Executive Joe Parisi, acknowledged many safety issues in the jail, but echoed longstanding concerns from his office about costs of existing renovation proposals.
“The [cost] brings a need for really thorough and complete homework before the board and the executive decide how to proceed on this project,” Wescott said. “We need to make sure we strike a balance between well-demonstrated safety needs of [Dane County Jail] and financial realities the county faces, while keeping in mind other projects on the horizon.”
Supervisor Carousel Bayrd, District 8, said there isn’t time for more analysis, as Dane County Jail conditions have been worsening for years.
Bayrd said this isn’t a conversation about money, but instead one about the people in the county’s “inhumane” jail.
“We have a huge level of responsibility for these individuals,” Bayrd said. “It’s not cheap, but it’s essential.”
Two different proposals for Dane County Jail reform were drafted and submitted to county officials by a group of consultants in 2016, after years of concern from the community on prison conditions prompted discussion among local officials.
Both plans address safety and liability concerns by consolidating the county’s three different prison facilities into one location surrounding the Public Safety Building downtown.
The options diverge in how the PSB space is expanded and in cost. The first adds four stories and uses an adjacent sheriff’s lot and West Wilson Street property. The second increases space by joining county-owned property, including a Carroll Street building, the sheriff’s lot and West Wilson Street property. Estimated costs are $152.1 million and $164.5 million, respectively. It is notable that the first does not account for supplemental expenses like acquisition fees, while the second is a full estimate.
No movement toward a proposal was decided upon. Committee members are set to review the consultant report section-by-section in mid-February.
