Mead puts office building on hold

Faced with budget concerns, the governor is going against lawmakers' request to proceed with building a new state office building at the site of the former Safeway store on Pioneer Avenue.

By Trevor Brown tbrown@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE -- Gov. Matt Mead has ordered the state to hold off on plans that could lead to a new state office building in the Capital City.

Mead said Wednesday that he directed construction officials not to spend $4.4 million, which the Legislature previously approved, to complete the design work for the proposed building.

The designs are needed before legislators would be asked to approve construction, which is expected to cost between $60 million and $80 million.

The building would go up at the site of the former Safeway grocery store on Pioneer Avenue.

Lawmakers wrote to Mead earlier this month asking that he proceed. But the governor said he is using his budget authority to indefinitely suspend action because of budget concerns.

"We are currently reviewing budget cuts that will have an impact across state government," Mead said in a statement. This is not the time to spend money on a large construction project; it is the time for fiscal restraint.

Meads decision also clouds the future for a proposed renovation of the State Capitols interior.

Officials have said the new building could first serve as a meeting place for officials and legislators to work during the renovation, which would overlap at least one session.

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Mead puts office building on hold