This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2003, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
When Gov. Olene Walker's proposed budget is released Monday, its cover will be adorned with an artist's rendering of what the State Capitol would look like following a proposed massive restoration.
Walker is staying close-mouthed about the details of her budget, but backers of Capitol restoration are optimistic the borrowing proposal -- in the form of taxpayer-guaranteed bonds -- is included.
"I hope so," says David Hart, executive director of the Capitol Preservation Board. "I would be surprised [if the project is not included]. She has been a supporter."
Walker is chairwoman of the board, which oversees the 89-year-old Capitol and the ongoing restoration effort.
But the proposal for a dramatic increase in bonding could face tough opposition in a year when Utah's economy is still attempting to struggle back from recession.
Political leaders are trying to figure out how to squeeze out more money for public schools and colleges without hiking taxes.
Hart recognizes there will be intense scrutiny of the proposal in the upcoming legislative session, but believes its merits will carry the day.
"The fear I have is if you wait and put this off," says Hart. "There's concern about this building not being safe and it really isn't."
He talks about the prospects of an earthquake toppling the historic building and its trademark copper dome on top of one of the many groups of schoolchildren who tour it.
Hart also argues pushing ahead with the project now will save millions of dollars because of low interest rates and hungry construction companies. Wait too long and the state could see a 10 percent increase in costs -- a nearly $20 million bump, he warns.
"How do you absorb that $20 million?"
Utah leaders already have invested about $72 million in taxpayers' money in the project -- constructing two new office buildings on the Capitol grounds, a plaza and a new parking structure and doing preparation and design work on the Capitol itself.
The plan calls for elected officials and their staffs to begin moving out of the Capitol into the new buildings in April in preparation for restoration of the main structure. But that hinges on approval of the additional funding.
Lawmakers last year got wobbly knees about all the construction spending -- nearly $260 million from start to finish -- at a time when state programs and agencies have been cut.
They almost pulled the plug on $18 million in design and planning money, then restored it at the last minute.
But the approved spending bill contained a disclaimer of sorts, saying funding of the first phase of the project did not mean lawmakers were committed to approve the next phase.
House Majority Leader Greg Curtis, R-Sandy, was one of the skeptics who since has been persuaded the project needs to be finished as soon as possible.
He says he will vote for the $185 bond authorization, but expects it will be a "tough sell.
"But we're really not in a position to mothball the Capitol," Curtis says. "You can't remodel half of a building."
On the other hand, Curtis believes that state leaders must put strict limits on taxpayer-backed debt.
"You can't borrow your way into prosperity," he says.
Toward that end the Republican leader will ask his caucus next week to put a one-year moratorium on all bonds except those for the Capitol restoration.
"That will come as a shock to the higher-education community," Curtis says, referring to tens of millions of dollars in requested new construction on state college campuses.
"I don't know if I'll have support," he says, "but it's time to say, 'Hey, let's show some restraint.' "