State proposes $494/sq ft cap for K–5 school grants; board hears timing and cost risks for referendum
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Summary
Tekton Architects told a public hearing that Connecticut’s revised school-construction guidance (PR2024-046) would cap allowable building costs for K–5 projects at $494 per square foot effective July 1, 2026, potentially leaving local taxpayers to cover amounts above that cap; board members said the district’s grant application is due June 30 and urged timely community action.
Jeff Wazinski, principal at Tekton Architects, told a Regional School District 15 public hearing that the Connecticut Department of Administrative Services posted revisions to school-construction grant guidance (tracking number PR2024-046) and that the allowable building cost listed for K–5 projects is $494 per square foot, effective July 1, 2026.
That change matters for the district’s planned referendum and grant timetable because the district expects to submit its grant application by June 30, assuming the May 6 referendum passes. "If you're above that $494 a square foot, it's likely that the community would pay the cost above that," Wazinski said, noting questions remain about whether the table excludes site and soft costs and how escalation will be handled.
Board members and staff emphasized the timing risk. A Board of Education representative said the feasibility committee recommended building two new schools on the existing properties if a single large site could not be found, and that the district has tracked local building costs in the $600–$615 per square foot range during planning. Wazinski summarized the gap: "The new cap...is $106 less than what we see in the current market." He and others said typical reimbursement rates (cited around 65 percent) would apply to the capped amount, not market costs above the cap.
District officials and the design team said several technical questions remain open: whether the $494 figure applies solely to building hard costs or also excludes site and soft costs, how often the state will update the table, and how escalation between the application and construction will be treated. Wazinski provided the DAS tracking number for further review: PR2024-046.
Why it matters: If the district’s project exceeds the state cap, taxpayers could be asked to cover the difference between the state-allowed reimbursement base and actual construction costs. Board members urged voters and the community to weigh the timing risk: applying for grants before the cap takes effect could change the district’s reimbursement outcome, while delays could trigger lower state reimbursement or other legislative impacts.
The hearing did not produce any formal vote on a construction contract or bond at this meeting; it was a public hearing and opportunity for comment. The board closed the hearing and later moved to adjourn.
