State agency urges $ for asset preservation, emergency repairs and Capitol security upgrades

Department of Administration Commissioner Tamar Grunval told the House Capital Investment Committee on Feb. 27 that the state faces an estimated $2.2 billion deferred-maintenance backlog across state-owned facilities and urged lawmakers to fund emergency repairs, planned preservation and security upgrades.

Grunval said the Administration manages more than 4,800 buildings totaling more than 34 million square feet and that the agency’s Capital Asset Preservation and Replacement Account, or CAPRA, provides emergency repair funds and hazardous-material abatement for state agencies.

At a hearing in the State Capitol, Grunval said CAPRA has been used for flood damage and major roof, water main and sewer replacements and that current balances are low enough that a few weather events could deplete the fund and force agencies to divert operating dollars to cover emergencies. “CAPRA funding is a critical operational…