MONROE - A proposal to build a new government services building earned a solid show of support from Green County supervisors Tuesday, allowing the project to move forward.
Supervisors voted 28-2 in favor of the project. While the resolution is nonbinding, voting for the plan indicated support for moving forward with the $17.25 million building project. Tuesday's vote also served as a litmus test for a future vote on financing the project, which will require approval by three-fourths of the board, or 24 supervisors.
Supervisors Betty Grotophorst and Sherri Fiduccia voted against moving forward. Supervisor Mike Furgal was absent.
The preliminary plan calls for building a new structure south of the existing government services building, to the west of the driveway that leads from Wisconsin 81 to the Pleasant View complex.
The structure would replace the current government services building, which includes portions that are 51 and 128 years old. In a presentation to the county board last month, Ron Locast of Potter Lawson Architects in Madison said the facility has structural problems, is not energy efficient, has areas with limited accessibility for people with mobility concerns and lacks proper security. The two adjacent structures have "outlived their lives," he told the board.
His firm's proposal calls for a new building of about 57,000 square feet, compared to the 37,000 to 40,000 of the current building. That additional space will accommodate future growth, Locast said.
The new building's ground level will house the aging and disability resource center and will have separate, covered entrances for the health and human services departments. The upper level will house mental health, alcohol and other drugs, community support, and children, youth and families departments. The exposed lower level will include room for the veterans services department, data services and a dental partner. A community room will also be included on the lower level.
Brian Della of Public Financial Management in Milwaukee presented the board with several potential financing options, based on a 20-year borrowing rate for $18 million at 3.5 percent interest - a rate he said is "very achievable" for the county. The payments can be customized as the county wishes, he said, to allow for financing other future county building projects.
The project would drive the county's annual debt service from $1,042,000 in 2016 up in steps until it levels out at $2,310,000 from 2019 through 2028.
While the project will double the county's debt service, Della reminded supervisors that budget line is relatively small in actual dollars. Currently, the debt service for Green County residents is 39.2 cents and the tax rate is $5.658. That means the owner of a $100,000 home is paying $568.80 in county taxes for 2016, and of that amount, $39.20 is going to repay debt. Borrowing to build the new building would increase the amount that homeowner pays for debt service to $87.
Grotophorst suggested the board table the vote for a month, to allow constituents more time to learn about the project. But Supervisor Kate Maresch countered "it's not the first time we've heard about this project," and tabling the vote would delay the project from moving forward.
Planning for the building project began in 2013 with an assessment of the exiting facilities and space needs.
Supervisor Harvey Mandel encouraged the board to support moving forward.
"Human services is a growing entity in America, not just in Green County," he said. And while acknowledging that he didn't want to spend extra money, "someone is going to have to face (constructing a new building.) Every year we wait, it's going to cost more."
Groundbreaking on the project is eyed for next spring, with the building enclosed by the fall of 2017 so interior work can continue through the winter.
Supervisors voted 28-2 in favor of the project. While the resolution is nonbinding, voting for the plan indicated support for moving forward with the $17.25 million building project. Tuesday's vote also served as a litmus test for a future vote on financing the project, which will require approval by three-fourths of the board, or 24 supervisors.
Supervisors Betty Grotophorst and Sherri Fiduccia voted against moving forward. Supervisor Mike Furgal was absent.
The preliminary plan calls for building a new structure south of the existing government services building, to the west of the driveway that leads from Wisconsin 81 to the Pleasant View complex.
The structure would replace the current government services building, which includes portions that are 51 and 128 years old. In a presentation to the county board last month, Ron Locast of Potter Lawson Architects in Madison said the facility has structural problems, is not energy efficient, has areas with limited accessibility for people with mobility concerns and lacks proper security. The two adjacent structures have "outlived their lives," he told the board.
His firm's proposal calls for a new building of about 57,000 square feet, compared to the 37,000 to 40,000 of the current building. That additional space will accommodate future growth, Locast said.
The new building's ground level will house the aging and disability resource center and will have separate, covered entrances for the health and human services departments. The upper level will house mental health, alcohol and other drugs, community support, and children, youth and families departments. The exposed lower level will include room for the veterans services department, data services and a dental partner. A community room will also be included on the lower level.
Brian Della of Public Financial Management in Milwaukee presented the board with several potential financing options, based on a 20-year borrowing rate for $18 million at 3.5 percent interest - a rate he said is "very achievable" for the county. The payments can be customized as the county wishes, he said, to allow for financing other future county building projects.
The project would drive the county's annual debt service from $1,042,000 in 2016 up in steps until it levels out at $2,310,000 from 2019 through 2028.
While the project will double the county's debt service, Della reminded supervisors that budget line is relatively small in actual dollars. Currently, the debt service for Green County residents is 39.2 cents and the tax rate is $5.658. That means the owner of a $100,000 home is paying $568.80 in county taxes for 2016, and of that amount, $39.20 is going to repay debt. Borrowing to build the new building would increase the amount that homeowner pays for debt service to $87.
Grotophorst suggested the board table the vote for a month, to allow constituents more time to learn about the project. But Supervisor Kate Maresch countered "it's not the first time we've heard about this project," and tabling the vote would delay the project from moving forward.
Planning for the building project began in 2013 with an assessment of the exiting facilities and space needs.
Supervisor Harvey Mandel encouraged the board to support moving forward.
"Human services is a growing entity in America, not just in Green County," he said. And while acknowledging that he didn't want to spend extra money, "someone is going to have to face (constructing a new building.) Every year we wait, it's going to cost more."
Groundbreaking on the project is eyed for next spring, with the building enclosed by the fall of 2017 so interior work can continue through the winter.