Officials back off $7.5 million cleanup estimate for Capitol

Banners hang at the state Capitol in Madison on Monday. The Department of Administration is backing off its original $7.5 million estimate to repair marble damaged by tape. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin officials now say the cost to repair damage at the state Capitol could be as low as $350,000.

Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch said the original $7.5 million estimate to repair marble damaged by tape was a “high-end” estimate. An updated report from DOA said a majority of the nearly $350,000 would cover a crew to perform “very limited” restoration on marble as well as landscape restoration.

The DOA originally said it would need $7 million to repair damage and between $60,000 and $500,000 just to assess the condition of the building.

Huebsch also said they are concerned whether the number of people in the rotunda could have caused any structural damage or safety issues in the Capitol. Protester numbers inside the Capitol have peaked at around 5,000.