Milwaukee County budget calls for new international terminal

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- It may soon be easier to travel around the world from General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee. The 2018 proposed Milwaukee County budget lists plans to knock down the unused Terminal E at the airport next year and replace it with a brand new international terminal.

Thursday morning County Executive Chris Abele shared his proposed budget which includes more than $25 million dollars in revenue bonds and airport funds to design the new terminal at no cost to taxpayers.

Mitchell Airport does have an international terminal now, but it isn’t attached to the rest of the airport and there is only one gate. The hope is to have the new terminal open by 2020.

"What we’re talking about is something that I think people are going to be blown away by they are going to love it, but it is a solid exclamation point behind the statement that General Mitchell is growing," Abele said. 

"This is an aging facility, the current terminal that we are in right now, and to re-purpose it into a facility that can handle international departures and arrivals will be a benefit for everyone," said acting Airport Director Brian Dranzik.

This year’s proposed county budget also includes plans to increase the wheel tax upping the vehicle registration fee to $60. Last year that was the county’s hope, but only a $30 fee was approved.