OTTAWA — Local residents voiced concerns over the state’s Capitol building renovation project at Saturday’s legislative coffee. The project hasn’t been finished in the expected time and is well over budget. Rep. Bill Feuerborn, D-Garnett, said part of the reason for the cost of the project was because of the $35 million dollars required to redo the stone exterior, something that wasn’t included in the original plan for the project. It was important for the legislature to take an objective look at the project, and do what’s best for the state’s finances, Feuerborn said. About three-fourths of the project is done and funding still exists for the project, so the decision over whether to finish the project immediately or come back at a better economic time was a difficult one, he said. Along with the cosmetic improvements, the project had increased office space at the Capitol, he said.
