Santa Rosa County citizens now have the numbers on the new courthouse, or as close as the design firm HOK is comfortable publishing. HOK representative Duncan Broyd said at Monday’s commissioner meeting, “It’s fundamentally a $50 million project. The decision at the end of the day is selecting a location best for the community and county. That is for you to work through.”
The numbers break down as follows:
These numbers, Broyd said, include the various land costs, site development costs, and foundation system costs. According to Broyd, though it had to mirror the design for the Milton location, HOK did its best to create the same building on each site. So the building cost estimate of $34.5 million is the same for all three sites. He said another $10.5 million would be the same for each building, which includes furnishings, electronic security, permits and fees, and other common costs. All of these numbers tally the first three mentioned.
Commissioner Bob Cole asked if these numbers would be suitable for the ballot and Broyd agreed. Broyd also said there is still a year’s worth of detailed design ahead where HOK can examine cost cutting measures.
Commissioner Jayer Williamson, himself an electrical contractor, said his bidding prices are now slightly higher due to the improving economy. Broyd said based on past HOK projects, if they make a cost estimate; they stick to it regardless of the tough decisions they have to make. He also said the estimate includes a 2 percent escalation a year, good for contingency.
A public question came up from Sandra Cantu regarding local contractors for the job. Williamson said he likes to spend money locally, but local contractors would not be first priority for a project this large. Lynchard said it will be built by the lowest bidder meeting qualifications.
With the costs more or less settled, the commissioners now have to agree on the ballot language. Commissioner Lane Lynchard said the language needs to have a specific number of years the one-cent sales tax would be levied. He said language saying the tax would last four years, or until the debt is paid, leaves an open end for possible continued taxation. Commissioner Jim Melvin agreed. He said, “I want to see clear enough language so the taxpayer knows it will go away.” County Attorney Roy Andrews said the current language needs to remain as it is but a non-binding referendum can be made more explicit.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Courthouse costs revealed