The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today approved $133 million in funding for the next phase of construction of the county Operations Center in Kearny Mesa.
The allocation will fund a pair of 150,000-square-foot office buildings and other upgrades at the 37-acre site of the County Annex.
The project will provide jobs for 350 construction workers.
"This is the county's stimulus plan," Supervisor Ron Roberts said.
Creating a new government center will have a "lasting benefit to the public," with facilities that last 50 to 100 years, Roberts said.
County officials hope to save money in the long run because maintenance costs for the current aging County Annex buildings were estimated at more than $200 million over the next 20 years, and because the county has to lease office space in the area.
The first phase of construction was split last year into 1A and 1B because of the county's fiscal woes. Phase 1A, costing $213 million, got the work rolling just over a year ago and is currently on time and on budget, according to county officials.
The money unanimously approved today without discussion was for Phase 1B.
