Legislature spent $8.5 million on renovations, more spending possible

The Senate spent millions on renovations inside the building and a new fence at the Capitol, including more than $20,000 for a new majority caucus table and almost $70,000 on new door handles, but Sen. President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said he won’t approve the last $2 million in spending that was originally planned.

The Senate spent $6.7 million on renovations in the interim between sessions last year. And the House also did some renovations but spent more than $1.85 million.

The Senate didn’t get any new buildings or major external changes but spent a lot on new furniture and some remodeling to first floor committee rooms. They now feature barriers between lawmakers and the public, a higher dais and ornate door handles.

Senate Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, is a fan of the revamped Senate and said that he thinks the renovations are “well worth it.” Now, he said the majority caucus room is “actually functional.” It is also outfitted with new chairs, microphones in the ceiling and screens on the walls.

Former Sen. President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, approved the first $6.7 million in renovations spending, but the plan was estimated to cost $8.9 million altogether.

Petersen said on Friday that he doesn’t think authorizing the rest of the spending is “necessary at this time.”

The fence alone is expected to cost nearly $1.23 million, but the Senate has only paid $20,020 for it so far. Consequently, it is not a big fence yet.

The reset of the fence money was already authorized by Fann, and Petersen said he couldn’t “stop it,” so the fence will be built and go around the Senate parking lot.

“The original plan had the fence going all the way around, President Petersen was able to stop the expansion beyond the Senate lot, but the fence around the senate lot was already contracted and construction had begun before President Petersen took office, so it could not be stopped,” Senate Majority Deputy Communications Director Chierstin Susel, said in a text.

“I can’t speak to the decision-making process that was used, but I would have been reluctant to approve expenses that weren’t absolutely necessary for the Senate to function. I don’t take the use of taxpayers’ dollars lightly, which is why when I took office, I put a stop to much of the renovation projects,” Petersen added.

The House will get its own fence. Public Records Counsel Justin Riches said the chamber doesn’t have complete records on the cost of the fence yet, and Toma said he didn’t have the cost on hand.

One of the Senate’s priciest line-items was $69,150 for new door pulls, including large handles engraved with the state seal.

The House had the two largest line-item costs: $584,596.32 for restroom remodels and $500,000 for reconstructing the 3rd floor ceiling and for fire suppression.

House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Peoria, said he doesn’t know yet if the House is doing more renovations. “Won’t make a decision on major stuff for a few weeks. Looking at a redo of some meeting rooms and hearing rooms but waiting for design options first,” he said in a text. The House and Senate are handling costs separately.