Cost overruns add concern to BISD bond issue


By ENTERPRISE OPINIONS
October, 19, 2009


If taxpayers were hoping for some good news for a change on the BISD bond issue, they didn't get it. They learned that the athletic complex on Interstate 10 will cost $14 million more than estimated because of inflation and higher regional labor costs.

BISD officials are claiming that the extra expenses were accounted for in the $388.6 million bond package. Maybe so, but the bottom line is that costs for the complex have already surged 48 percent over the original estimate of $29 million. That is the number that voters had when they were voting on the bond issue.

There is no way the district can handle overruns like that on every other job. The same factors that have affected the athletic complex will affect every other project on the bond issue.

Taxpayers are expecting everything to be built in this bond issue, including projects in the final phases. BISD officials need to make sure that cost overruns at the start of the work don't wreck that goal.


COMMENTS

the extreme wrote:
What is the Parsons Program? And where in the Sam Hill did you all find this guy, director Ed Caillouette? His qoute from sunday's paper, "We know how to manage this. Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont might not." REALLY? How arrogant. And I'm sure that in your mind you are doing a FINE job sticking it to Mr. and Mrs. Beaumont. Hey, you all picked a great spot to put the stadium, on the same side of the highway as ansother taxpayer funded debacle, ford Park. But wait there is more, I also love what the director said in closing. That they ae tracking expenditures to make sure they come in at, or under budget. HOWEVER, those numbers would not be publicly released, only to certain administrators. This guy would make a good candidate for "athletic complex czar" in the obama administration.
10/21/2009 06:09 AM CDT

HillebrandtHoney wrote:
But they have a million dollars for a scoreboard! LOL The people of Beaumont should revolt. Are people actually calling their board members or e-mailing them and demanding answers? Are they going to the board meetings and speaking up? VOTE these people OUT of OFFICE. Someone who lives in BISD needs to take the reins and run an all out campaign against current board members!
10/20/2009 05:30 PM CDT

Terminus wrote:
You can't tell me that expenses for the new complex have gone up that much since the bond issue. Either the architects and engineers were lying or the administration were lying. Make you go hmmmmmmm............
10/20/2009 03:40 PM CDT

RNS wrote:
Anyone with any sense KNEW that the athletic complex was never going to be built for $29m!! Not to mention it was not supposed to be built until the last phase & the 1st phase hasn't even been completed yet! Another PERFECT EXAMPLE of the FRAUD BISD Board & Thomas perpetrate on the voters & taxpayers. Get them out of there!
10/20/2009 01:19 PM CDT

GREENIE 1969 wrote:
If the complex is finished can you imagine how much the tickets will be?
10/20/2009 12:30 PM CDT


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