Kansas lawmakers have authorized the issuance of another $36 million in bonds for the final work on a complete renovation of the state capitol, which began in 2001.
The above-ground portion of the project is scheduled to be completed in June 2012.
The state will seek private funds for a planned underground visitors center that is expected to cost an additional $11 million.
The entire statehouse renovation project is expected to cost a total of $286 million.
The Kansas Development Finance Authority has issued $175 million of appropriation-backed bonds for the project in nine tranches.
The bonds, which are supported by annual legislative appropriations, are rated Aa2 by Moody’s Investors Service and AA by Standard & Poor’s.
The cost of the renovation was originally estimated at between $90 million and $120 million, but the price grew when lawmakers added an underground parking garage and an expanded basement to the project.
The statehouse was completed in 1903. The current renovations include the replacement of the entire the structure’s electrical, air conditioning, and plumbing systems.
