Committee approves amended Fixed Capital Outlay Budget after trustee questions on large change orders

The Finance, Facilities and Administration Committee approved an amended Fixed Capital Outlay Budget for fiscal year 2025–2026 on April 7 after trustees questioned sizable change‑order increases on several renovation projects.

Vice President for Administrative Services and Finance and Executive Director of the FGCU Financing Corporation David Vazquez presented the amended plan and accompanying change‑order summary. Trustee Paul Applegarth asked which specific amendments required approval and flagged several change orders with steep increases—one cited at roughly 77 percent—asking whether contractors had used low initial bids and then raised costs through change orders.

Vazquez said the majority of the change orders reflected University‑directed scope changes (aesthetic, programmatic or functional decisions) or unforeseen conditions discovered during construction rather than contractor‑initiated upcharges. He said larger projects used guaranteed maximum prices and that continuing‑service contractors operate under contractual limits; if a contractor could not deliver, the University could consider alternatives. Vazquez agreed to review change‑order histories by contractor and percentage to identify any patterns.

Trustee Applegarth moved to approve the amendment; Trustee Sandy Stilwell Youngquist seconded. There was no public comment; the committee voted unanimously to approve the budget amendment and associated change orders. Chair Richard Eide said he expects administration to continue ensuring projects stay within approved budgets and to report back if patterns are found.

Next step: the approved amended budget will be recommended to the full Board at the April 14 meeting.