“Good things come to those who wait” is a famous quote that seems appropriate for the upcoming move scheduled for the Alabama Department of Revenue.

It has taken four years to prepare the newly constructed $130 million Centennial Hill Building for occupancy, but it’s almost ready to house over 700 state employees. The new building, named in honor of the historic area where it sits, is located on the corner of South Ripley Street and High Street. A parking deck sits behind it on South Jackson Street in Montgomery, and a courtyard lies between the two.

Currently, the department is spread out over three buildings in the downtown area, making it difficult to operate efficiently and securely while also adhering to IRS protocols.

Alabama Department of Revenue Commissioner, Vernon Barnett, discussed why the move was necessary.

“We couldn’t lock it down the way we needed to, so that’s where the real need came from,” Barnett explained. “All the data and everything else are locked down tight, so we shouldn’t have any trouble with the IRS moving forward.”

The Department of Revenue expects the new facility will revitalize its workforce and aid in recruiting new employees.

“Like all the other state agencies, we have a lot of people who are ready to retire, and we need to hire young people to come in and work,” Barnett added. “I think that energy is contagious, and I think it will be great for our recruitment moving forward and our retention.”