Colorado lawmakers defend $100M+ Capitol renovations

Driving the news: The most noticeable change relocates all lawmakers' offices to the state Capitol, rather than spreading them across the Capitol complex. The move displaces staff to adjacent office buildings.

Other renovations include:

• $58 million to repair the Capitol Annex and State Patrol offices
• $10 million for security upgrades and Capitol fortification barriers
• $2.8 million for "rehabilitation and restoration" of the governor's office
• $1.4 million to remodel the cafe in the Capitol basement and install new furniture

What they're saying: Democratic leaders defended the spending, saying the renovations began before the current budget crisis.

• "Getting all of our legislators in the building was an important thing that has been a problem for years," Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez (D-Denver) told us. "And the ball had already been moving before [budget cuts] happened."

What's next: The Polis administration is considering converting a current state office building one block from the Capitol into affordable housing units and a child care facility.

• The cost to convert 1313 Sherman St. is estimated at more than $111 million, or roughly $1 million per residential unit, according to a yet-to-be-released feasibility study. Colorado officials are exploring whether a private developer could help cover the costs.

• State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, a legislative budget writer and Republican candidate for governor, opposes the plan, calling it "ridiculous."

The other side: The alternative is a $120 million renovation, state officials told lawmakers earlier this week. The state has already spent $1.4 million to fix the building's fire alarm, renovate offices and survey for hazardous materials, but would need an additional $118 million to finish the rehab project.