Southborough NHERI finance subcommittee readies final school estimate, flags budget and schedule risks ahead of MSBA filing

The Town of Southborough NHERI Building Committee finance subcommittee met Jan. 24 and approved two routine consultant invoices while focusing its discussion on finalizing a schematic‑design estimate for submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Committee members were told the estimating teams from Arrowstreet (design) and Skanska (construction management) plan a reconciliation meeting in early February to resolve differences between their SD‑level price assumptions and to issue a final package by the end of that reconciliation day if no substantial changes arise. Jim, the Skanska representative, said the firms are "on track for completion through SD." The group also discussed parallel value‑engineering work, the treatment of geothermal costs, MSBA extra‑reimbursement points, community pushback from senior stakeholders and supply‑chain and tariff risks that could affect the final bond amount.

The reconciliation and the numbers that result matter because the subcommittee must notify the MSBA by sending a project budget email (form 30‑11) at least 10 days before formal submission. The subcommittee discussed carrying three MSBA green‑school/reimbursement points now and whether to include a projected fourth point in the SD submission if Arrowstreet believes it…