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Tunica County hears preliminary $300–$400/sq ft estimates for MDHS building; board seeks lease comps
Summary
County heard contractor and architect estimates showing $300–$400 per square foot for a proposed MDHS building; board members asked staff to get comparable lease numbers and return with debt-service impacts before deciding whether to renovate or build new.
Tunica County supervisors were presented with preliminary construction cost estimates for a proposed MDHS building and asked staff to gather lease-comparison data and debt-service figures before making a decision.
The presentation, given by James Curcio, noted contractor estimates of $300 to $400 per square foot and said the figures were preliminary and not ready for construction bidding. Curcio said those contractor estimates did not reduce the county’s projected costs and that a recently bid community center had come in around $400 per square foot.
The board pressed for more detail on lease payments and how much the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) would pay under a lease to cover debt service. Curcio and Dr. Willis said they were vetting local comparables and would return with additional information.
Board members also discussed capacity needs: Curcio said he understood MDHS would house roughly eight to 12 employees in the new space, and that a building sized for about 8–12 employees would likely be sufficient. Curcio said the proposed site would be across from Aaron Henry and that Tunica town officials were part of conversations about location.
No formal vote was taken. The board’s direction was for staff to obtain lease-rate comparables and finalize debt-service projections so supervisors could decide whether to renovate the existing building or pursue new construction.
The matter will return to the board once the county receives the requested lease information and refined estimates.
