Council confident of library budget

By Oakley Brooks

The chairwoman of the library expansion project's citizen oversight committee expressed concern about cost overruns to the city council recently. But city officials are confident that the project will not require any emergency funding.

Chairwoman Susan Calderon said on Dec. 19 her committee was worried that the $500,000 contingency fund that the city council set aside in January 2000 for the estimated $14.5 million project could be whittled to less than 3 percent of the original amount soon. That, before the more expensive second phase of library construction begins later this month.

Of the unanticipated costs, one of the biggest is the temporary library behind Sacred Heart Church, which cost the city $113,000 to keep some book services going until the new building is completed in early 2003.

Construction firm Gen-Con has also estimated that the ongoing first phase of the new library, which included grading the site and laying new concrete foundations and structural footings, will cost $174,000 more than the city's earliest estimates.

"It is our opinion that the current remaining contingency fund is inadequate for this project," Calderon told the council.

Assistant City Manager Lorie Tinfow, who has been overseeing the $14.5 million library project, urged city council members not to be alarmed about the budget situation. She explained that in addition to remaining contingency funds, the city could use money from the county library system's Joint Powers Authority--which had earmarked some money for furniture in the new library. Tinfow also reported that interest earned from the library bond could cover additional cost overruns.

By Tinfow's estimates, even if the library project runs through the $500,000 contingency fund, as citizens worry it might, there will still be more than $1.5 million available to cover budget shortfalls.

And if that money is also spent, Tinfow said the city council could order contractors to use less expensive materials and components in the new library to cut down on costs.

But Tinfow, council members and Calderon agreed Dec. 19 that all of the overrun scenarios are conjectures until city officials process Phase Two construction bids expected by Jan. 3. Then the city will have a better idea of how much the more elaborate second stage will cost, and whether or not it will put the project over budget.

"When Phase Two bids come in, this might all be over," Calderon said. "We hope it is."

Members of the city council still applauded Calderon and the oversight committee for stepping forward and alerting the council about potential overruns.

"You're blowing the whistle just a little," Vice Mayor Evan Baker said. "And you're doing the job we asked you to do."

The city council formed the committee after the $15 million library bond measure earned voter approval in spring 2000. The oversight group meets once a month with a member of the city staff and construction consultants to discuss the progress of the library project.

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