Senate committee moves capital footnote for buying 1 Granite Place; seller to carry note and OPLC relocation discussed
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Committee members agreed to hold and then move an item that would clear rent expense by purchasing 1 Granite Place for the Justice Department; committee noted a footnote that the seller has agreed to carry a note for shortfalls and may help with moving the Office of Professional Licensing and Certification (OPLC).
The Senate Finance Committee placed and then approved a capital provision that would enable the state to acquire 1 Granite Place — a building now housing leased Justice Department offices — with a footnote indicating the seller has agreed to carry part of the financing and to help cover any shortfalls.
A senator explained the move as a long-term cost-saving measure: "we're already paying rent in 1 Granite Place for the Justice Department... this will take that rent off the books when we're ready to buy it," and added that negotiations produced a footnote where the buyer or seller "agreed to carry the note for us" and "assist us moving, possibly OPLC over to that building and cover the cost to do the move as well."
Committee members questioned whether leftover funds would lapse to the capital budget or whether additional appropriations would be required if costs exceed estimates. The sponsor said the estimate was likely to be higher than shown in the packet and that the footnote language provides that the seller would carry any shortfall; decisions about using capital or other funding would be made by a future Legislature.
After discussion the committee voted to move the items forward with the committee amendment and footnote. Senators stressed the timing and that detailed budget and financing decisions would be finalized later in the budget package.
The committee also discussed holding other related agency items until the financing and parking in the larger HB2 package were clearer.