Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Building Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Director says governor proposed $25M for public-safety building; county continues advocacy and federal requests
Summary
Alec Knudson, Government Affairs Director, reported a proposed $25 million state capital allocation for Milwaukee's public-safety building and courthouse complex and described ongoing state and federal advocacy, congressionally directed spending requests and upcoming forums and hearings.
Alec Knudson, Government Affairs Director for Milwaukee County, briefed the Intergovernmental Relations Committee on April 7 about state and federal advocacy, including a mid-March governor's capital-budget proposal that would allocate $25,000,000 toward Milwaukee's public-safety building and courthouse complex.
Knudson said the governor's $25 million proposal represents the largest capital allocation he could recall for a local county courthouse project and said county leaders — including the sheriff, district attorney, chief judge and county executive's office — had partnered on outreach to legislators and stakeholders. Knudson said the county is partnering with the Wisconsin Policy Forum for a panel discussion on April 28 to discuss the public-safety building and courthouse issues.
Knudson outlined other advocacy activities: county representatives participated in the Wisconsin Counties Association legislative conference and a March 27 advocacy day focused on health and human services priorities, and the Joint Finance Committee has held public hearings and will continue agency briefings and executive sessions as it processes the state budget. He listed areas of emphasis raised with the Legislature, including early childhood services, Medicaid and mental-health funding, criminal-justice and corrections funding, transportation infrastructure and veteran services.
On federal matters, Knudson said Milwaukee County has been successful acquiring congressionally directed spending (CDS) awards in past cycles and that staff have submitted projects for consideration in 2025, noting the 2025 CDS round has been delayed by a federal continuing resolution. He listed example projects the county has pursued for federal support: the public-safety building, CTS bus purchases, housing-first initiatives, a community center, Bayview revetment affordable-housing work and Bender Park projects. Knudson said county staff secured dozens of letters of support for those requests and that detailed submissions were due to various congressional offices over the coming weeks.
Knudson also noted a recent $6,000,000 addition secured through partnership with the Wisconsin Counties Association for a Center for Forensic Science and Protective Medicine project to address inflationary cost increases, and he encouraged supervisor engagement in advocacy days, joint finance hearings and other outreach channels.
"The governor has proposed $25,000,000 for Milwaukee's public safety building and courthouse complex," Knudson said. He offered to provide supervisors with details about youth commission advocacy and other scheduled events.
