AUBURN – School officials are trimming items from a new $10.4 million elementary school after learning the project could come in a half million dollars over budget.
They have set aside $400,000 to $500,000 in add-ons and upgrades, such as automatic faucets and a full brick facade, until they determine exactly how much construction will cost.
Created to replace the aging Lake Street Elementary School, the school will be built on 10 acres on Park Avenue. Designs call for a 44,000-square-foot school with 17 classrooms, a library, a gym and space for several programs. Voters also approved special funds for air conditioning and a middle-school-sized gym.
When site work began a few weeks ago, they learned rising prices for gas and materials had driven up costs about $240,000 more than planned. Experts said construction could exceed the budget even more.
Because voters approved the size of the school and earmarked money specifically for the gym and air conditioning, officials couldn’t cut the size of the school or reallocate money without another referendum.
And because Maine is paying for most of the project, the school system would need state approval to increase its budget.
But the state warned Auburn it would give no more money.
“They brought to our attention You have what you have. No more,'” Business Manager Jude Cyr said.
The school system decided to cut back on the school’s design details. Officials will ask construction companies to base bids on less expensive materials and submit separate proposals for add-ons, such as a curtain for the stage and a public address system for the cafeteria and gym.
The building committee has created a list of possible cuts and downgrades, including vinyl tile instead of ceramic, traditional faucets instead of automated ones and a rubberized synthetic gym floor rather than one made of maple. It will also consider using a combination of brick and another veneer rather than the all-brick facade originally planned.
If the base bids come in under budget, officials will begin adding items back in to the design.
“We are guardedly optimistic that we’ll be able to afford all these items,” Cyr said.
Officials will accept bids in June. Construction is scheduled to start on the new school this summer. The building is slated to open in the fall of 2006.
It will serve more than 300 kids in kindergarten through grade six.
The new school has not been named.
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