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Council authorizes staff to advance Tier 2 T-SPLOST designs, adds council approval for budget adjustments
Summary
Council authorized staff to proceed with conceptual and preliminary design work on the T-SPLOST Tier 2 project list but added a requirement that any project adjustments or local funding to cover overruns must be approved by the council before implementation.
Council approved a resolution allowing staff to proceed with project development and conceptual design for the T-SPLOST Tier 2 project list while also amending the staff authorization to require that any adjustments that would cause a project to exceed its adopted T-SPLOST project budget must receive Columbus Council approval before implementation.
Staff explained that the T-SPLOST program sets a budget for each project and that final construction contracts may exceed preliminary estimates. The resolution tells GDOT and the T-SPLOST administration that the city understands that if a project exceeds its T-SPLOST budget, local funds will be required to make up the difference; council added language to ensure that any such local appropriation or scope change would require formal council approval.
The amendment was added on the floor and approved by voice vote; staff said the change preserves the ability to proceed with conceptual design work so consultants can provide more accurate estimates while protecting council's authority over budget increases.
What happens next: Consultants will proceed with conceptual and preliminary design; staff will return to council with updated estimates and, if construction costs exceed T-SPLOST budgets, present options for additional local funding or scope reductions for council decision.
