Sacramento Special Capitol Building Project – Orange County Registry

It’s a safe bet that many Californians would love to update their home or business if they could. New windows, a new roof, perhaps new furniture and appliances, but inflationary cost of goods, coupled with the financial stress many are experiencing due to California’s COVID restrictions, made desirable upgrades out of reach. Except for our Legislature, of course, who don’t mind spending more than $1 billion in taxpayers’ money to build themselves a new office space.

You correctly read that, over $1 billion in taxes slated for a new office building for state politicians, all while those who already paid those tax dollars struggle. to earn a living. Unsurprisingly, according to a recent poll, 76% of voters – including a majority of Democrats, Independents and Republicans – reject the Agency’s excessive and unnecessary construction project. legislative.

The legislators’ multi-billion dollar boondoggle was born out of a need to upgrade the historic Capitol Building, the legislative office building that was added to the state Capitol in the 1950s. Maintenance of the Annex Building largely ignored by the state over the years, making it long overdue for health and safety improvements, the cost of which is pegged at around $500 million. But rather than rehabilitate the Annex, the Legislature is working on a demolition and rebuilding plan to build massive new mines befitting a tech giant. Their plan includes soaring exterior glass walls, as well as a 200-seat underground garage (for their use only) that will require uprooting of up to 100 rare and historic trees. in Capitol Park and a new visitor center will excavate the iconic Western Steps.

So much for the environment.

The price of individual quarters by the Legislature was $543 million in 2017 but has since grown to more than $1.2 billion, even before the sinking ball was shipped. With the state’s track record of historical cost overruns on taxpayer-funded projects (see high-speed rail), anyone can guess what the ultimate cost to taxpayers will be. how much if the project is not paused.

Adding an insult to injury, a $450 million “swing space” office building was erected across the street from the Capitol to house the Legislature and staff. them while the Annex Building was being demolished and their excess work was under construction. Adding the cost of the “swing” building to the Annex project has cost taxpayers nearly $2 billion to date.