Nexus presents updated facilities plan and $49 million phase‑1 budget; board set to review in August

Nexus Solutions presented updated scope and budgets for Belvedere District 100’s facilities master plan and asked the board to consider authorizing detailed design work for the phase‑1 program at a future August meeting. Nexus officials said updated budgets reflect 2023 price bases adjusted for market inflation, inclusion of soft costs and a holistic re-scoping of interrelated building improvements.

Why it matters: Nexus said the district’s original 2023 estimates were construction-only. Reworking the estimates to include consultant (soft) costs, general conditions, sequencing, contingency and interactions between systems increased the total phase‑1 budget; Nexus cautioned the $49 million figure is a budget, not a bid price. Approving the phase‑1 plan would authorize detailed design and later public bid packages.

Key points from the Nexus presentation - Presenters and roles: Mike David, President of Nexus Solutions; Hans Knoll, Senior Project Development Engineer; and Lauren Warner, client executive, led the presentation and site validation work. - Current phase‑1 budget: Nexus reported a phase‑1 project budget of about $49,000,000 (reported in presentation as $48,926,000), described as an “all‑in” project budget that adds soft costs and contingencies to construction estimates. Nexus noted earlier phase‑1a estimates were approximately $30,700,000 (2023 basis). - Drivers of change: Nexus cited three main reasons for increased budgets — (1) original construction-only budgets excluded soft costs and general conditions, (2) a holistic, discipline-integrated scope revealed necessary associated work (for example, electrical upgrades tied to mechanical replacements), and (3) updated market inflation assumptions (roughly 7% per year compounded since 2023). - Materials exposure: Nexus estimated roughly $8–$10 million of the phase‑1 budget would be affected by commodity price volatility for steel, copper and aluminum; they said contingency and inflation allowances are included. - Example priorities for phase‑1: HVAC replacement/air-handling units and related electrical upgrades at schools such as Washington Elementary; select roofing and hardscape repairs; and improved secure entrances (visitor screening) at buildings that lack a secure entry lobby.

Financing, schedule and next steps - Financing: Nexus said the district can combine funding sources (health-life-safety funds, fund balance, alternative revenue, project financing) and that the board’s financial advisors (Stifel and PMA) will validate any final financing plan. Nexus presented an interactive project-selection tool (FIMSUM) that links individual improvements to funding sources and tax‑impact modeling. - Tax impact: Nexus stated that, as presented, the $49M phase‑1 scenario could be structured to avoid a tax-rate increase for current taxpayers; district staff and financial advisors must confirm final terms. - Timeline: If the board authorizes detailed design, Nexus outlined a 6–9 month design period, early‑2026 bidding and heavy construction during the summers of 2026–28 (with some work continuing into 2029). Nexus requested board-level conceptual approval of phase‑1 at the August 18 board meeting or, if more time is needed, at subsequent meetings (Business Services Committee Aug. 4 and an alternative Sept. 2 committee date were offered).

District finance details referenced - Joanne Armstrong (CFO/COO and board treasurer) clarified the district’s existing debt-service picture, noted recent health-life-safety bond issuance in March and explained how community sales tax revenue has been used to abate debt service. She also said earlier debt restructuring extended repayment to 2038.

Board direction and next steps - Nexus asked the board to (a) review the FIMSUM project-selection tool and (b) consider a conceptual approval on August 18 that would authorize Nexus to proceed to detailed design and competitive bid packages. Nexus and district staff said they would return with refined numbers and that Stifel and PMA would validate any financing plan before the board took spending actions.

Context and limits - Nexus emphasized the $49M number is a budget estimate and that final project costs will be determined through the design and public bidding process. Nexus said the district’s construction market timing matters and that moving sooner could produce more favorable contractor pricing.

Ending: Board members were invited to submit questions ahead of the Business Services Committee meeting on Aug. 4; Nexus said it will provide a legible FIMSUM and a cash-flow model for the board’s August review and that final bid packages will return to the board for award.