By Ashley Zavala
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —California Capitol Annex construction crews are in the process of installing controversial Italian stonework onto the expensive new office building for lawmakers and the governor, project officials confirmed.
KCRA 3 first reported back in 2024 that project leaders, known as the California Legislature's Joint Rules Committee, quietly spent $5.2 million in taxpayer funds to mine granite in Raymond, California, ship it to Italy for finishing, and then return it to Sacramento for installation. It is one small expense in the project's $1.2 billion total price tag.
The granite is now being added to the facade of the new glass building to visually connect it with the historic Capitol, according to the Joint Rules Committee.
Greg Burt, with the California Family Council, whose office overlooks the site, called KCRA 3 when he noticed the slabs had been delivered Thursday.
"I heard stories about this granite that went all the way to Italy and I go, could that be it?" he said.
The decision to use Italian granite was controversial when it first came to light two years ago. The Joint Rules committee would not prove it was the least expensive option after KCRA 3 submitted open records requests.
Sources also told KCRA 3 it may have been cheaper because Italy does not have the same labor and environmental standards that fabricators in the U.S. and California must follow.
The granite controversy is just one example of the secrecy surrounding the project.
Project leaders have required thousands of people to sign nondisclosure agreements, limiting public access to information. Under these agreements, the project's cost increased from $543 million in 2018 to over $1 billion by 2022, comparable to the cost of some NFL stadiums.
For years, project leaders would not update taxpayers on the cost of the building until this year. Decisions about the project are made by a small group of people without input from the public.
Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco and State Senator John Laird, who oversee the project, refuse to release financial records proving the total cost, stating they will provide them when the building is completed in fall 2027.
Critics, including Burt, continue to question the spending. "Where is all that money going? There's no regard for taxpayer money? That's disturbing. Taxpayers, they work every day and they expect politicians to spend their money wisely," Burt said.
The project has also raised concerns about how it will impact journalist access to elected officials. Additionally, $64 million has been allocated for extra security features, including private hallways for lawmakers.
As of July, project leaders confirmed the building's estimated cost remains at $1.2 billion, a $98 million increase since 2022.
So far, $668 million has been spent, with completion expected in October 2027. The last public hearing on the project was held in 2021.
