Glenda Ritz ordered expensive Statehouse renovations

WISHTV.COM

Jim Shella

Updated: Feb 28, 2013 5:23 PM

Indianapolis– (WISH) Glenda Ritz took office as state School Superintendent just last month.  This week extensive renovations were completed in her Statehouse office.

Supt. Ritz ordered Statehouse renovations that were estimated to cost $111,000.  The job came in under budget but it still cost taxpayers $86,000.  We got a tour of the new facilities led by the Superintendent’s communications director, David Galvin.  “This was one cavernous room,” said Galvin pointing to new walls, “and it was just divided up with cubicles.”

The work, done by an outside contractor, was actually designed by Ritz herself.  She drew up the floor plan.  State Senator Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn,) the chairman of the education committee, is not impressed.  “I don’t think it was necessary,” said Kruse.  “It’s a want as opposed to a need.”  Kruse calls the expenditure unwise.

Galvin says there has been positive feedback, too.  “State employees think it’s a much better, nicer space,” he says.  The money came from savings created by the previous administration.

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