Assemblyman Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) has expressed dissatisfaction with the recent update provided by the Joint Legislative Rules Committee regarding the costs of the State Capitol Annex Project. In a statement released today, Hoover criticized the committee for not providing specific financial details or updated project cost estimates.
“After multiple requests for specific financial information and updated project costs on the Capitol Annex Project, the Rules Committee has released an insufficient update that provides none of that information. Instead, their report restates facts that are already known, lays blame on litigation that was the result of poor policy choices by the Legislature and provides a list of excuses for why project costs will likely increase in the near future. The update also reopens the conversation about demolishing the historic West Steps, despite verbal commitments to eliminate that portion of the project in recent months. It’s critical that lawmakers protect the West Steps and give taxpayers the real story on how much this project will actually cost,” Hoover stated.
Last month, Assemblymembers Josh Hoover and Joe Patterson sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom requesting more transparency concerning spending on this large-scale renovation. The Joint Legislative Rules Committee has not released new cost estimates for nearly four years. The most recent public estimate from 2021 put expenses at $1.1 billion for constructing a new 525,000-square-foot office building and parking structure.
Josh Hoover represents California’s Assembly District 7, which covers cities such as Citrus Heights, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and several unincorporated communities including Carmichael and Fair Oaks.