Sacramento Bee–

The California state budget frees up $1.6 billion to build new structures in downtown Sacramento, including a long-awaited project that will replace a warren of offices attached to the Capitol and temporarily move legislative staff to a yet-to-be constructed office building on O Street.

Replacing the 66-year-old Capitol Annex is the most expensive of the three projects funded by the $200 billion 2018-19 state budget lawmakers are expected to send to Gov. Jerry Brown today. The state is setting aside up to $755 million to tear down the six-story structure and replace it with a more modern space.

The other new projects are a $460 million courthouse to replace the outdated Sacramento Superior Court, and $420 million to build the O Street building that would temporarily house the legislative offices and later be used by other government offices.

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