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Utility estimate for school project jumps to about $2.2 million, committee told
Summary
The School Building Committee was told utility estimates rose from an $800,000 allowance to roughly $2.2 million, largely because North Attleboro Electric plans to replace a transmission feed cable estimated at $720,000; the committee approved utility estimates and will reconcile budgets after 60% cost returns.
The School Building Committee was told the project’s utility estimate has increased from the original $800,000 allowance to about $2,200,000, a rise the presenter attributed mainly to new work North Attleboro Electric says is necessary to serve the campus.
Presenter (S3) told members that North Attleboro Electric’s updated scope includes replacing a transmission feed cable and that “that cable itself, not the total cable cost is $720,000,” a single large line-item driving most of an approximately $1.4 million increase. The presenter said the vendor supplied a detailed estimate and that any final charges will reflect actual costs billed by the utility.
Why it matters: the change will require shifts within the project budget and could affect which allowances are reduced or reallocated. Presenter (S3) said the project team will receive detailed 60% estimates shortly and reconcile the budget at the next SBC meeting.
Committee members asked whether the town or the project is responsible for replacing the lines. Committee member (S7) framed the question as whether the district is liable “from the street to the building.” Presenter (S3) said some of the infrastructure is town property but that North Attleboro Electric provided a cost estimate and “they’re only gonna, at the end, be what their costs are.” The presenter contrasted that with Liberty Gas, which “requires payment before they’ll do anything.”
A project consultant/Presenter (S5) cautioned that design-and-pricing contingencies typically start near 15% and shrink as design advances; he said this utility issue was larger than typical contingency allowances and that the team will use the 60% estimates to identify sources to cover the gap.
The committee approved the utility estimates as presented by voice vote and will review the reconciled 60% cost estimate at a future meeting. The presenter also noted three reimbursements totaling $875,542 had been received and that another item awaited signatures.
