The state Judicial Council voted Thursday to delay four courthouse construction projects across California, including one in Sacramento.
The body made its decision, citing concerns about the state budget for fiscal year 2013-2014. The council, however, will allow site acquisition to proceed for the new Sacramento courthouse.
The state, which runs local Superior Courts, has determined Sacramento's existing Gordon Schaber Courthouse downtown is too small and needs replacement. A new $452 million, approximately 16-story courthouse has been planned for the block bounded by H and G and Fifth and Sixth streets.
Local court officials have been pushing hard for the land acquisition. In a Dec. 10 letter to state judicial officials, Sacramento Superior Court Presiding Judge Laurie Earl urged the state to at least follow through on an already negotiated $10 million agreement to buy land.
"Should we be unable to move forward on this agreement, we are confident that this lot and this price will not be available to us" in the future, Earl wrote.
The other delayed projects are in Nevada, Los Angeles and Fresno counties.
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