The proposed new $78.5 million Portage County Government Center project really could be viewed as costing millions less depending on how it is looked at. County officials have said millions will be spent regardless of whether voters agree Tuesday, Nov. 8, to move forward with the government center concept.

“It looks more like a $50 million project if you look at the (more than) $25 million we still have to spend on something that has to be done anyway,” County Supervisor Bob Gifford said.

Portage County residents will weigh in on whether the county should move forward with the concept during an advisory referendum Tuesday.

Government Center concept

The proposed center includes constructing a three-story, 270,000-square-foot building attached to the County Annex downtown containing a two-pod jail to house a maximum of 200 inmates, with room to grow if needed, four new courtrooms and general county government offices.

Also included in the plan is $360,500 for demolition of the 1039 Ellis St. building and razing the existing Law Enforcement Center for new parking at a little more than $1 million.

Repurposing the existing County-City Building also is on the list, but there are no specific dollars allocated to that project. The county has slated about $6 million for the building over a 10-year period through its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), projects which are annually reviewed and included in the regular budget process.

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