Committee OKs favorable recommendation for budget increase for Betancis Learning Lab project

The Hartford City Special Operations Management, Budget and Government Accountability Committee voted unanimously Monday to send a favorable recommendation to the full City Council for a requested $6,660,100 increase to the Betancis Learning Lab magnet school construction budget.

The increase would raise the project budget to $73,485,300 to cover higher-than-anticipated construction bids, additional phasing and temporary facilities, and related soft-cost escalations. Director Paul Droni, chair of the Hartford School Building Committee, and Colliers Project Leaders project executive Scott Pellman said the city is seeking state support that would reimburse roughly 95% of the requested overage; the city would cover the remaining 5% through capital planning.

Committee Chair Councilman America Hernandez said the meeting was necessary because the certified resolution must be submitted to the state for final administrative approval. Scott Pellman said the cost growth stemmed from higher bids on HVAC, electrical and site work, extended construction phasing to keep the school operational, and the need for temporary administration and nurse/dental spaces. “The final construction bids for phase 2 were approximately $6,500,000 over budget,” Pellman said. He added, “This increase does include the construction manager's contingency. Also, we have a 7 and a half percent owners contingency for any additional unforeseen conditions.”

Pellman said the project’s original authorization in 2021 was for $43,709,800 and that the budget was previously increased on Oct. 11, 2023; that earlier increase brought the budget to about $66,000,008 (as reauthorized on the state priority list). After further design development and completed phase 1 work, bids for phase 2 — the general construction of the building — exceeded the authorized amount and required the present request.

On the question of timing and cash flow, Pellman said construction is expected to continue through 2028 and that the city has some budget allocated for the next one to two years but will need to account for remaining costs in future fiscal-year budgets. Budget Director Julian Forain was referenced as having been informed and that the city will account for the 5% local share in fiscal 2026 (and possibly into fiscal 2027). Droni said he would submit the certified resolution to the state office of grants administration and follow up with the state's grants director; “I will email Ellis, the director of grants, … and everything else up to this point has been submitted,” Droni said. He noted the state administrative decision through DAS is not guaranteed but said conversations had been positive.

After brief questions from committee members, Councilman T.J. Clark moved a favorable recommendation back to council; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The committee recorded four ayes and no nays. The matter will return to the full council at a meeting scheduled for the coming Monday at 7 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Favorable recommendation to Council — resolution to increase project budget by $6,660,100; tally: Yes 4, No 0, Abstain 0. The motion did not record a roll-call listing individual yes votes in the transcript.

Background: The Betancis Learning Lab magnet school project has proceeded through schematic design, design development and construction documents with Colliers Project Leaders serving as owner’s project manager. The city previously increased the project's authorization in October 2023 and secured a state reauthorization on the 2024 priority list. The current request responds to actual construction bids received for phase 2, additional phasing time of roughly one year, and costs associated with temporary classrooms and site work.

Next steps: The committee will forward the certified resolution to state officials for administrative approval of reimbursement. City staff said they will not move forward with awarding the full construction packages until they receive state confirmation that the overage will be supported.