Commissioners say hospital project over budget; county plans to request CIB drawdown

Garfield County commissioners reported that construction costs for the county hospital have substantially exceeded early estimates and that the county will seek to draw on Capital Improvement Board (CIB) funds once contractors’ pay applications move the project to the required draw threshold.

County officials said the original budget for the project was roughly $2.3 million, but bids returned “near $5–6 million.” The county reported it has paid about $1.9 million so far and expects the next contractor pay request, described in the meeting as in the $300,000–$400,000 range, will make the project eligible for a $1 million release from the CIB. The commissioner said the county planned to provide the CIB with invoices and documentation and ask that the board release the funds so the county can spend the money between now and September.

Why it matters: The hospital project is a county capital priority and the change in costs affects the county’s ability to complete the project within the previously set schedule and budget. Commissioners characterized the higher costs as a result of market conditions and extra work on the project as designs were refined.

County approach and timeline: Commissioners said they will pursue the release of CIB funds and coordinate with CIB staff; one commissioner said they planned to raise the matter directly with the CIB chairman at an upcoming Utah Association of Counties (UAC) meeting. No formal new appropriation or vote by the commission was recorded at the meeting; commissioners described this as a procedural step to request release of already-authorized CIB funds.

Ending: County officials said they remain committed to completing the hospital project and will continue to submit documentation to CIB and monitor contractor pay requests to enable the next drawdown.