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Board hears revised capital budget; pool cost estimate rises, A&E funding requested
Summary
At a Board of Education retreat staff previewed a revised capital-improvement plan that shifts $30 million for a new aquatic facility into later years and asks for $4 million now to pay architect and engineering (A&E) work. Officials also noted a near-term need for geothermal/chiller rental funds.
Greenwich Board of Education staff presented a revised capital budget at a retreat, saying designers now estimate a new aquatic center will cost far more than the $30 million placeholder on the district's draft. The staff recommended seeking $4 million now to fund architect and engineering work and pushing the larger construction appropriation into later fiscal years.
The district's capital team told the board the feasibility committee's early square-foot estimate for the pool was $30 million, but a professional estimator's more detailed review produced a current range of about $49 million to $59 million. That estimator, the staff said, applied a Fairfield County adjustment to reflect local costs. To preserve a realistic contracting timetable, the staff proposed asking for $4 million this year for A&E design work and deferring the bulk of the construction request until fiscal 2027'28.
The presenters said the $4 million A&E ask would allow the district to complete design and procurement steps so construction could begin when cash flow permits; without it, the district could not proceed to contract in the intended fiscal year. One staff member noted the pool project would likely require approximately $55 million in later-year appropriation if the high-end estimate holds.
Board members and staff also discussed an immediate operating pressure tied to HVAC: a chiller rental is costing about $25,000 per month, creating an urgency to address a geothermal/HVAC project outside the normal capital-improvement schedule. The presenters said an interim appropriation on the October 23 business meeting agenda will address that rental cost so the district does not wait for the routine CIP cycle.
During discussion, a board member asked whether the larger figure covers a full new building; staff replied that the $59 million number reflects a brand-new 70,000-square-foot facility including a pool and support spaces. Staff emphasized the estimate still reflects early-stage assumptions and that a final design and professional estimate would be presented at a later meeting.
Staff said other small CIP adjustments were being proposed (a $20,000 reduction in a plumbing/electrical line item for a water-heater item and updates to playground replacement timing based on Parks & Rec equipment life), and that a revised capital request will be filed for the October business meeting.
