The budget knives at the Capitol not only mean pink slips, furloughs and less frequent garbage service, but now they’re padlocking the visitor information center on the Capitol Campus, effective July 1.

The visitor center has always been a welcoming place for folks freshly arriving on campus from I-5, with tons of maps, ferry schedules, brochures galore and helpful advice on what to do on campus, in town and in the amazing state we live in.  But the governor and Legislature added it to the budgetary hit list.

The Department of General Administration says some of the pamphlets and stuff will be available in Room 111 of the Capitol, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. Free guided tours of the Capitol will continue, on the hour, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.