IDAHO

Legislators are looking at selling $32 million in bonds to finance half of a project to restore the state capitol building in Boise. While the bill to authorize the bond sale passed overwhelmingly, the state needs approval to use $32 million in general fund money to move forward with the project, said capitol commission chairman Roy Eiguren.

"I'm quite confident it will pass because it has the support of legislative leaders and the governor," he said.

The commission hopes to offset some of the general fund allocation with fundraising efforts and by selling commemorative license plates. The commission may also raise funds by exchanging land given to the state by the federal government when Idaho joined the union for $15 million to $20 million in cash from the public school endowment fund, Eiguren said.

Bonds for the project would be issued by the Idaho State Building Authority in late 2002 or early 2003, after the preliminary design work is completed, Eiguren said. Reconstruction should be completed by July 2005, the building's centennial, he said.