Utah's construction boom is killing Davis School District's construction plan.
Subcontractors are so scarce that the plan is already $4 million over budget. Officials say they may have to trim some projects if the money can't be recouped by 1995."It's been amazing and very frustrating," said Lynn Trenbeath, assistant superintendent. "Seems like every district in the state has major projects out for bid - that really drives up the prices."
The district had hoped to build four new schools, remodel or construct additions for 16 others and buy 75 new portable classrooms in the next three years. The plan is supposed to provide enough space for an expected 6,000 new students.
But officials are wondering if they'll be able to do all that, given today's bidding environment. Contractors have raised their prices because specialty crews are getting top dollar. Material costs have gone up, too.
"It's been the toughest to get masonry work done. The general contractor for our new junior high school had to hire a crew from out of state," Trenbeath said.
The new building in Kaysville is on budget, though, she said. "We got those bids in just before the boom really hit." However, prices for the rest of the first phase of new construction have gone up.
Work on Davis High School, for example, will cost $3.9 million instead of the $2.2 million originally budgeted. And a 10-room addition to North Layton Junior High will cost $320,000 more than budgeted.
"We think we can make up the difference over the three-year plan . . . by being frugal and getting some good bids," Trenbeath said. Leaders are also counting on more money for new buildings from the state Legislature.
If neither occurs, projects in the plan's third phase may suffer. Officials have budgeted $11.3 million in that phase for:
- Classroom additions to elementary schools in northern Davis County.
- Classroom addition to Orchard Elementary in Bountiful.
- Air conditioning for Orchard, Adelaide and Stewart elementary schools.
- Classroom addition to South Davis Junior High.
- Classroom addition to Mueller Park or Millcreek junior high school.
- Remodeling and additions to Woods Cross High School.
Any of the projects could be targeted for cutbacks if needed, Trenbeath said. "We just don't know how the bidding will affect our plans."
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(Additional information)
First-phase update for Davis School District
Davis School District has changed its budget for new construction funded by a voter-approved $50 million bond:
Project Budget New estimate
North Layton Jr. 2 million $2.3 million
Layton High $1 million $1.3 million
Davis High $2.2 million $3.9 million
Bountiful High $500,000 $900,000
Totals $5.7 million $8.4 million
*For technology center and new classrooms.
Note: A new elementary school near Hill Air Force Base has been reassigned to second phase and will cost $1.3 million more than budgeted.