New State Building Plans Vetoed by Perry Resurface; Eltife Comments

AUSTIN (AP/Staff) – Rising office rent prices in downtown Austin have lawmakers again pushing for two new state buildings after Gov. Rick Perry vetoed those construction plans in 2013, and an East Texan is weighing in. One proposed 360,000-square-foot addition would be the first new office building in the Capitol complex since 2000. The Texas Facilities Commission says construction would cost $174 million but also get nearly one-fourth of the state’s existing leases in Austin off the books. Republican state Sen. Kevin Eltife of Tyler told the Austin American-Statesman that the plans make sense given escalating rent prices as the Austin economy flourishes.

Perry had cited waiting for a new master Capitol complex plan due in 2016 when he vetoed the construction two years ago. Supporters are now hoping for better luck under Gov.-elect Greg Abbott, who takes office in January.