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Business official flags tight capital fund and rising construction costs for planned classroom project
Summary
John Livingston told the board the district has spent roughly 75% of its operating budget for the year, has a constrained capital fund, and that contractor estimates for a planned 9,200-square-foot building have jumped from roughly $335/sq ft to over $500/sq ft, potentially raising the project cost well above earlier state estimates.
John Livingston presented the March month-end financials and cautioned the board about capital constraints and rising construction costs.
Livingston said the operating fund budget is $19.3 million with $14.4 million spent (about 75% of the year and of the budget). He described the capital fund 620 as tight and noted encumbrances; a small unspent remainder was expected. He reviewed the Casitas housing revenue (about $550 per unit per month) and said five debt-service payments remain before expected surplus generation.
Most centrally, Livingston said the contractor estimate for a planned 9,200-square-foot building has risen dramatically: earlier state estimates used roughly $330–$335 per square foot, while a contractor estimate now shows costs "over 500 per square foot," which could push a project budget from around $3.2 million toward $6 million when design, furniture and site-condition costs are included. Livingston said the district has not yet selected a contractor and that staff expect to seek state cost adjustments under statutory replacement obligations.
The presentation did not produce a vote; board members expressed support for seeking additional state funding but no fund-raising plan was presented at the meeting.
