Levelland faces roughly $7 million shortfall after wastewater plant bids exceed estimates

Levelland — City officials told the Levelland City Council that the lowest bid to build a new wastewater treatment plant came in at $26,265,000, far above engineers’ original construction estimate of about $16 million, leaving roughly $7 million the city must find before the project can move forward.

Council was briefed on the shortfall and financing options at its April meeting; no award or binding decision was made. Staff said they will return to the council next week for further consideration and to include council members who were absent.

The gap emerged after the city went to bid earlier this year. City staff told the council that the original “opinion of probable cost” included about $16 million for construction and $3.3 million for engineering, for a total of roughly $19.35 million. After bids were opened in March, the lowest responsive bid was $26,265,000; projected total program costs including contingency and other items were presented as about $30,878,250.

James (staff member) said the city has identified roughly $2 million in additional funding available — some from interest…