By Karl Cooke
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (FOX26) — Earlier this year, we looked at the financial impacts of the ongoing state project known as the Capitol Annex Project.
Now we're getting a closer look at the project from the perspective of someone who was there when it was first proposed.
We spoke to former Historic State Capitol Commissioner Richard Cowan about how things have changed for the project since it was first proposed back in 2017.
"We can do more good to preserve the historic annex and Capitol Park outside the commission than we can on the commission.
That's Cowan's belief when talking about the ongoing project in Sacramento.
The project is based on three different elements:
Cowan was on the commission when the project was first presented to the state legislature, explaining the rise in costs from then to now.
"The Joint Rules Committee convened in December of 2017 and approved the project with the three elements we mentioned for a cost of about $455 million,” Cowan said.
Today, we believe as best as we can construct from hearings and reports, and then budget bills, as we've tracked it, we think that this is about $1,217,000,000, or a 61% cost growth.
When it was originally proposed for the $455 million, Cowan says the commission was glad to see renovations would be happening for the annex building. But the feeling changed when learning the original building from 1950 would be torn down and rebuilt.
What was also shocking to him was the lack of transparency from state officials.
It's after moments like this that he and fellow commissioner Paula Pepper decided to step down from their roles. Looking to make an impact to try and at least stop the construction of the visitors center of the project by speaking out.
At last check, the full completion is expected to be done by 2027.
The concern about a lack of transparency from state leaders and the cost when compared to the ballroom project at the White House was recently brought up by one reporter during a press conference led by Governor Newsom and State Attorney General Rob Bonta.
It was a lengthy back-and-forth as the governor was surprised that his constituents weren't speaking up about the project.
