Lease or build?

Missouri is spending more than $50 million a year for leased office space for government agencies. An audit a couple of years ago uncovered some leases for buildings that were no longer being used by state agencies. Officials believe it would be more cost effective for the state to build and own its own office buildings rather than leasing.

Some state officials have suggested a new office building in Cape Girardeau to house government operations that are scattered around town. The state has offices in the Marquette Tower downtown, at 710 Southern Expressway, on Blattner Drive and on Mount Auburn Road.

One thing to keep in mind is that Cape Girardeau has ample office space readily available with an estimated 100,000 square feet of empty space, including 15,000 square feet in the Marquette Tower and the rehabbed Marquette Center across Fountain Street.

When Prost Builders of Jefferson City bought the old Marquette Hotel -- a building that had been empty more than 30 years -- it was because the state policy at the time favored locating state offices in downtown buildings. In addition, Prost was able to obtain substantial tax credits to renovate the hotel building and the nearby building that became the Marquette Center.

The new emphasis on state ownership of its office buildings makes sense, particularly if state offices can be consolidated into one-stop centers that make it easier for Missourians to take advantage of state services.

But after spending millions of Missourians' tax dollars for credits on buildings like the Marquette Tower and Marquette Center, it might be just as prudent in some situations to maintain leased offices.

The best deal for taxpayers would be to find the most economical office space, whether it's through leasing or building. At first blush, it appears that leasing makes sense in Cape Girardeau for the foreseeable future.