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May 23, 2016

Future of Hartford's Old State House in question

HBJ PHOTO | Greg Bordonaro State lawmakers have cut funding to Hartford's Old State House, raising questions about its financial future.
By Greg Bordonaro

The state's budget woes have left the future of a historic downtown Hartford landmark in jeopardy.

The state budget recently passed by the House and Senate in special session — and awaiting Gov. Malloy's signature — has cut funding to, and shifted oversight of, the Old State House, a national historic landmark since 1960.

The budget requires the Office of Legislative Management (OLM) to lease or sublease the Old State House to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for $1. As a result, DEEP will take over management of the iconic Hartford monument, whose roots date to 1796.

The city-owned facility was previously overseen by the Connecticut Historical Society and city, until the state took over management in 2008, after financial difficulties nearly led to the attraction's closure.

Since then, the state has handled the facility's security, maintenance and other operations, and contracted with the Connecticut Public Affairs Network (CPAN), to run the educational and community programming.

DEEP Assessing Costs

DEEP spokesman Dennis Schain said his agency is still assessing how it will manage the Old State House. Under the original 2016-2017 budget, OLM had $589,589 earmarked to run the building. About $400,000 has been transferred to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, but even with that allocation, DEEP's overall general fund budget has been cut about 11 percent to $63.9 million, meaning the agency is being asked to provide more services with less funding.

“We do believe the funding we have been provided [for the Old State House] is likely less than what was being used,” Schain said, adding it's too early to tell what operational changes may occur at the facility.

Is there a risk the Old State House could be shuttered?

“Given the budget reductions we will need to live with, it is likely there will be some changes in days and hours of operations at the Old State House,” Schain said. “As for a total closure, it's too early to rule anything out, but I'd say that is less likely.”

Schain said DEEP, which didn't ask to take over management of the building, does have experience overseeing the state's 109 state parks and state-park museums, whose operations will also be challenged by budget cuts.

Attendance Up

William Bevacqua, a spokesman for CPAN, said his organization is taking a wait-and-see approach with Old State House's future. CPAN receives about $500,000 annually from the state to oversee Old State House's educational and community programming, which has been effective in gradually increasing attendance, especially among school groups, Bevacqua said.

The building had 47,522 on-site visitors in 2015, compared to 24,740 in 2014, Bevacqua said.

“We understand budget issues may make operations of the Old State House a challenge going forward,” Bevacqua said. “We are looking to explore all funding opportunities with DEEP. … Everyone who is part of this transition understands the importance of the building to Connecticut's history.”

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