Wayne County board approves $38.8 million guaranteed maximum price for Rosewood school project

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners voted to approve a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $38,849,337.78 for the Rosewood school construction package, the board said during its March 18 meeting.

County staff told commissioners the GMP includes construction and associated soft costs — architect fees, geotechnical work, mobilization of modular classrooms and issuance expenses — producing a total program cost near $38 million and leaving an approximate funding gap after grants and commitments.

Board members and school-district representatives detailed the package and financing. County staff said the district has $25,325,000 in grant funding toward the project; the packet provided to the board indicates a remaining shortfall in the range of roughly $12.7 million before other financing decisions. The packet also lists $2,656,740 for architect fees, a contingency line of about $770,000, and a $250,000 traffic-signal allowance that staff said NCDOT is expected to reimburse under a state statute referenced during the meeting.

Commissioners pressed staff and district representatives for clarifications on specific line items, including a $226,475 line described as mobile-unit mobilization and setup; staff explained most modular units were relocated from other district sites and that an invoice included delivery and hookups. Commissioners also asked for a breakdown of a $610,000 “various items” grouping, a $100,000 general allowance and a $418,000 allowance labeled “alternate overhead and fee.” Staff said a more detailed line-item breakdown is available in the final GMP documentation and that they would provide the board the additional detail requested.

Board members discussed alternates that had been bid for the campus, including eight additional classrooms that would expand the middle school’s capacity. County staff and one commissioner urged caution about adding the classrooms at the middle-school site now, saying it could create a school larger than the high school and that adding space first at Rosewood Elementary might be a more efficient use of funds. The board’s working group said it will pursue a separate plan to build additional classrooms at Rosewood Elementary and intends to reallocate funds accordingly.

Staff said they are coordinating with Davenport, the county's financial adviser, on cash flow and timing for borrowing. The board was told the Local Government Commission requires the county's most recent audit before some debt transactions and that timing could push borrowing into late 2025 or early 2026; staff said grant cash on hand is expected to carry some project expenses in the near term but that some cash-flowing or short-term borrowing might be required.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the GMP; the board approved the motion. Commissioners indicated the vote was unanimous during the meeting record and asked staff to supply the additional breakdowns they requested.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve guaranteed maximum price of $38,849,337.78 for the Rosewood school project — approved (board vote recorded as unanimous in the meeting transcript).