Murphy broadsides DIS project

State Treasurer Mike Murphy blasted the project for the new Department of Information Services headquarters this morning.

Alas, I wasn't there, it's been a busy moring with the arrest of two people at the Capitol last night -- see story on home page -- an audit committee and the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee meeting.

But the big show, I'm told in no uncertain terms, was Murphy's words for DIS. The project was taken off the Finance Comittee's agenda. But Murphy's never been a fan of the financing scheme in place for the project. According to Mark Jobson, who attended, Murphy said the Wheeler site project now costs $438 million, not $260 million, and is moving much too fast.

I'm looking into it. Expect a press release from Murphy's office soon.

UPDATE 2: See full story here.

UPDATE: Talked to Department of Information Services Director Gary Robinson, who also heard about the meeting retroactively.

Robinson said he has faith in the lease-purchase mechanism for paying for the project, which now has a budget of $370 million.

That figure is substantially different from $438 million. And it’s still a big increase over $260 million.

Delays are cost increases in these construction projects, and this project is on hold, Robinson told the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee. He pointed to the appeal by neighbors of the state’s plan to mitigate environmental impacts of the development first, and the not-having-money part second.

Either way, the agency can’t turn dirt, can’t take down the buildings that are on the site now, he said.