Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, August 30, 2025
News Summary
Milwaukee County moved forward on plans to replace its aging downtown Safety Building after a state budget action freed design funding. County leaders are using state expressway patrol dollars and local reallocations to assemble roughly $22.8 million for planning and will seek additional cash to keep design on schedule. The multi-year replacement is estimated near $490–$500 million and remains in mid-design phases; full construction funding is not yet secured. Officials say a new courthouse will resolve security and circulation problems, reduce maintenance costs, and align with related downtown redevelopment.
Milwaukee County advances long-planned courthouse replacement as state budget shift frees design money
Milwaukee County is moving forward with detailed planning for a long-delayed replacement of its aging courthouse complex after a state budget change freed up local funds for design work. The multi-year project carries cost estimates in the range of $450 million to nearly $500 million, with a commonly cited figure of $490 million for full replacement and build-out.
What changed now
The new momentum follows a state budget allocation that includes $40 million over the biennium for expressway patrol services that the county has long carried on the state’s behalf. County leaders plan to apply that state funding to balance part of the 2025 county budget and reassign previously local dollars toward courthouse planning and design.
An additional $9 million in expressway-patrol funding is expected this year, and the county intends to reallocate roughly $7.5 million from the sheriff’s office budget toward the courthouse design program. Pending county approval, the planning and design budget would rise to about $22.8 million, with county leaders seeking another $11 million in 2026 to keep design work on schedule.
Project stage and near-term schedule
The courthouse project is in the fourth of five design phases, currently in the conceptual stage. County materials indicate formal construction funding requests will begin with the 2027 county budget. One planning timeline projects construction of the new facility to start in 2029 and finish in 2032, followed by renovation of the adjacent historic county courthouse from 2032 to 2033. Other public schedules shared previously show some variation, including design work through 2027 and completion dates around 2031; the county warns that continued delay will increase total costs.
Why county officials say replacement is needed
County and court officials describe the current building as nearly a century old and functionally obsolete. The existing structure was built in 1929 and houses courtrooms, offices and former jail space. Officials report the facility lacks modern courthouse design standards, including dedicated secure passageways for moving defendants in custody and separate circulation for witnesses and the public. Shared hallways and circulation have been cited as creating security risks and operational problems that can contribute to mistrials and other court delays.
Operational data cited by county staff shows 852 incidents last year requiring deputy response within the existing courthouse. The building contains roughly 60,000 square feet with 10 floors of old jail cells that are unused and cannot be retrofitted for modern needs. That former jail space has not been used since 1992. The county also notes ongoing maintenance and utility costs, including about $500,000 a year in maintenance for the aging structure and significant deferred maintenance obligations estimated in the hundreds of millions.
Site choice and related development
Officials have decided to demolish the current Safety Building and construct the new courthouse on the same, county-owned site. That decision avoids land acquisition costs and keeps the new complex close to the county jail and the historic courthouse, minimizing inmate transfer distances and improving operational efficiency.
The choice to reuse the Safety Building site also frees another county-owned parcel — the existing museum complex — for potential redevelopment once the museum completes a move to a new location in 2027. The museum property spans several hundred thousand square feet and is already the subject of county planning to determine its highest and best future use.
Costs, funding gaps and options
Total project cost estimates vary across public materials, with figures ranging from roughly $450 million for design and certain projections stretching to $500 million for full development. The county plans a mix of local cash financing and future requests for state or federal support; it is pursuing roughly $6 million in potential federal directed spending and discussing state funding mechanisms tied to the unique responsibilities Milwaukee County carries.
One key funding issue is a state mandate the county fulfills that other counties do not: freeway patrol on interstate expressways within county boundaries. Historically, the state contribution toward that service has covered a small portion of the county’s actual cost. The recent biennial budget provided expressway-patrol dollars that the county will use to reallocate local resources to courthouse design, but the county continues to seek broader state-level changes to funding for mandated services.
Security, operations and long-term benefits
County planning documents emphasize that a new courthouse aims to reduce security incidents, improve courtroom operations, cut long-term maintenance and utility costs, and enable staffing efficiencies. Design priorities include secure circulation for in-custody defendants, separate public and staff circulation, updated technology and more efficient spatial layouts. Officials argue a modern facility will reduce risks that now lead to emotional strain for court users and operational disruptions for judges, prosecutors and public defenders.
Next steps
With the current funding strategy pending county board approval, the project is preparing to move deeper into design. The county plans to request additional design funding in 2026 and to pursue construction funding requests beginning in the 2027 budget cycle. Project leaders caution that timelines and final costs could shift as design work advances and as funding sources are finalized.
FAQ
What is being replaced?
The county plans to replace the century-old courthouse and associated Safety Building with a modern courthouse complex on the existing site.
How much will the project cost?
Estimates vary. Public materials cite figures from about $450 million to roughly $500 million, with a frequently referenced estimate near $490 million. Final cost will depend on design choices and funding arrangements.
Where will funding come from?
Funding will be a mix of county cash, proposed state assistance, and potential federal directed spending. Recent state budget allocations for expressway patrol freed local dollars to increase the courthouse design budget to about $22.8 million, with additional cash requests planned for 2026.
When will construction start?
One planning schedule projects construction beginning in 2029 and finishing in 2032, with renovation of the historic courthouse to follow. Other timelines have shown small variations; construction funding requests are planned to start in the 2027 budget process.
Why build on the current site?
Building on the county-owned site reduces acquisition costs, keeps the new courthouse close to the jail and the historic courthouse, and frees another county parcel for redevelopment once the museum moves.
What are the main safety and operational issues?
The existing building lacks secure circulation for defendants, shares public and custody routes, and has aging infrastructure that increases maintenance costs and operational risk. The county reports hundreds of security incidents requiring deputy response in a single year.
Key project features
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Common cost estimates | $450M – $500M (frequently cited near $490M) |
| Design funding now planned | Design/planning budget target of $22.8M; seeking additional $11M in 2026 |
| State budget impact | $40M for county expressway patrol over the biennium; additional $9M expected this year |
| Site | Demolish and rebuild on the existing Safety Building site; museum site becomes available for redevelopment |
| Timeline (planning) | Design in phase 4 of 5; construction funding requests begin in 2027; construction estimated 2029–2032 with courthouse renovation 2032–2033 |
| Safety/operations | Building lacks secure circulation, reported 852 incidents requiring deputy response in one year, has unused jail floors not suited to retrofit |
| Size of existing facility | About 60,000 sq ft with 10 floors of former jail cells |
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Additional Resources
- BizTimes: Budget maneuver allows Milwaukee County courthouse project to advance
- Wikipedia: Milwaukee County Safety Building
- OnMilwaukee: Public Safety Building coverage
- Google Search: Milwaukee County Safety Building replacement
- WISN: Milwaukee County officials on courthouse Safety Building
- Google Scholar: Milwaukee County Safety Building courthouse
- Spectrum News 1: Milwaukee County leaders push for new Safety Building
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Search – Milwaukee County Safety Building
- Urban Milwaukee: County picks site for new courthouse
- Google News: Milwaukee County Safety Building
