Budget cuts mean fewer trash pickups, less marble polishing

Those working in state-owned buildings – and that includes us in the press corps – can expect less custodial services starting July 1.

It means the trash can in my office, and all the other offices in the Capitol Campus, will no longer be emptied every day. Instead, they’ll be dumped twice-a-week.

Other changes announced by the Department of General Administration include:

-Vacuuming will be done once a week instead of daily.
-Carpets will be cleaned once a year instead of twice.
-Hard floors will not be stripped or buffed for appearance, but only to maintain the life of the floor material or to prevent slips and falls.

Another notable revision is that marble restoration in the Temple of Justice and the Capitol will be done every four years prior to the gubernatorial inauguration instead of annually before the start of legislative sessions.

Even after the cutbacks, there will be lots of work left to do.

According to the department, the custodial staff will still be cleaning 2.1 million square feet of space each day in 24 buildings on the campus.