By Noah Zahn
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Via- Wyoming News Exchange

CHEYENNE — State Construction Department leaders met with members of the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee on Friday to present their capital budget requests for the 2027-28 biennium, which begins July 1, 2026.

SDC Director Delbert McOmie and his team presented 23 budget requests seeking roughly $560 million in authorizations.

McOmie opened the session by highlighting the SCD’s achievement in implementing a modernized facility condition assessment for state buildings, a system mirroring the protocols used for K-12 schools. This method uses a 20-year outlook. He said that work garnered national recognition.

“We attended the National Association of State Facility Administrators (conference) in Salt Lake City and won an award for where Wyoming’s at in monitoring this and how we’re using that data,” he said.

The centerpiece of the presentation was the Major Maintenance Request, seeking $232,979,440 from the Strategic Investment Projects Account, a request Gov. Mark Gordon recommended approving in his proposed budget.

This allocation covers maintenance needs across approximately 20 million square feet of state facilities, community colleges, state parks and the University of Wyoming. The funding level is calculated using a 2.5% condition multiplier.

McOmie said that changing to this rate, up from 2%, is projected to increase the operational lifespan of state buildings to between 67 and 75 years, and he said it is projected to save the state over $3 billion in future capital construction costs.

The SCD also requested approval of several planning and contingency funds, including $1.2 million for reconnaissance and feasibility studies for projects like potential replacement facilities at Casper College.

Additionally, the department requested nearly $6 million for the State Building Commission Contingency Fund. SCD Construction Manager Dave Webb explained that this fund enables a quick response for urgent facility needs and prevents project delays. He added that it is crucial for ensuring timely property acquisition.

Both of these preventative requests received the governor’s recommendation for approval.

However, the committee also moved to review several critical agency requests that faced gubernatorial denial, including the Department of Administration and Information’s need for an $11.9 million enterprise-wide security and access control system upgrade.

Rep. Jeremy Haroldson, R-Wheatland, questioned why the department jumped immediately to a full construction budget ask.

“I understand it’s a need, but where’s the logic? Instead of saying, ‘Hey, we’re wanting to get an idea and get our feet on the ground on this and we’ll come back and give that ask when the time comes,’ it kind of feels like we went zero to 100 on this,” he said.

A&I General Services Administrator Andrew Kuhlmann said his concern is that his team can’t shut down the current, older systems until newer systems are operational.

McOmie provided context for the denial, saying the governor had approved a partial funding recommendation from the State Building Commission but later denied it in the official budget, looking instead at the state budget overall.

“He recognized in his earlier vote on the $6 million that there was probably something needed for that, but when you look at the big picture for the entire state and him trying to balance the budget, that was the outcome of that discussion and his thought process,” McOmie said.

The governor also denied a separate request for $20.5 million for continuing renovations within the Hathaway Building in Cheyenne, despite a SCD recommendation for approval.

Lawmakers also discussed requests from the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, both denied by the governor. 

WLEA Director Chuck Bain detailed the plans for an $18.1 million Emergency Vehicle Operations driving complex, stating that the current training facility is built over a drainage area and will require major attention to the current driving facility within the next three to five years to remain operational.

Bain said the driving complex “holds priority” over the second request, the $4.3 million for new firearms ranges. The planned range complex includes the design of a 50-yard, 30-lane indoor range to handle 40-student classes.

The committee also addressed funding complications at the Wyoming State Fair, including a denial of $37.7 million requested to enclose the Silver Arena at the State Fairgrounds in Douglas.

Additionally, the governor denied authorization to spend $2 million in private funds that the State Fair had already secured to replace the dirt floor in the show center with concrete, drainage and cooling coils. Wyoming State Fair General Manager Courtney Conkle said her team has the funds on hand now for the private project.

Among the few fully approved capital projects was the $87 million remodel and modernization of the Veterans’ Home of Wyoming in Buffalo. Sen. Mike Gierau, D-Jackson, questioned whether the state is moving forward alone due to federal delays.

McOmie said the decision was driven by inflation, and that he anticipates federal reimbursement, but he is unsure when that will be.

“The longer we delay, the higher the inflation,” he said, noting that inflationary costs had already shifted the cost share from 65% federal and 35% state to 47% federal and 53% state.

Sen. Tim French, R-Powell, questioned the cost-effectiveness of the current plan.

“I strongly support our veterans. Having said that, $87 million for this remodel … sometimes you’re better off tearing that building down and rebuilding it with our modern facilities,” he said.

After completing the discussions, the committee adjourned its Friday session, completing the first week of JAC meetings in preparation for the 2026 budget session. The committee will resume Monday with hearings dedicated primarily to discussing the Department of Health budget requests.

The committee has two more weeks of meetings in January before the 68th Wyoming Legislature’s budget session begins Feb. 9.

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