This newspaper's editorial board must be counted among the skeptics of Green County government's ability to limit the cost to taxpayers of a new justice center.
The Green County Board has much credibility to regain. Last summer, the $8.5 million project approved after public debate ballooned to a projected $12.6 million to make room for more county offices. Since then, we skeptics have been wondering how much more than that construction of the facility actually will cost.
Last week came the first indication.
The Green County Ad Hoc Justice Center Property Committee learned that even the lowest of six bids submitted for construction of the center is above the $10.9 million allotted for the construction budget. J.P. Cullen of Janesville was the low bidder, at about $11.273 million.
"I think we can come very, very close to what is budgeted," Green County Board Chairman Art Carter said. "We always planned to turn educated best guesses into hard numbers, and we really need to do that now."
That the bids came in a little higher than budgeted isn't necessarily a surprise, as Carter indicated. Nor need it be a setback for the county or for taxpayers.
This is where the hard work needs to begin on the hard numbers Carter refers to. The board and its committee must remain resolute about ensuring the project comes in at - or, better yet, under - budget. Board supervisors must not settle for the construction bid to end up being a dime over $10.9 million (as ridiculous as that sounds).
Committee members made the right move last week when they held off making any recommendations to the County Board. They first want the architecture firm Potter Lawson to work with J.P. Cullen to find ways to cut costs. The committee next will meet at 2 p.m. on July 7.
Hopefully, those cost-shaving talks are fruitful. If they aren't, the committee must not accept higher costs simply for the sake of moving forward. The taxpayers' dollars they are spending are significant, and there should be an expectation that the county treats them accordingly.
The Green County Board has much credibility to regain. Last summer, the $8.5 million project approved after public debate ballooned to a projected $12.6 million to make room for more county offices. Since then, we skeptics have been wondering how much more than that construction of the facility actually will cost.
Last week came the first indication.
The Green County Ad Hoc Justice Center Property Committee learned that even the lowest of six bids submitted for construction of the center is above the $10.9 million allotted for the construction budget. J.P. Cullen of Janesville was the low bidder, at about $11.273 million.
"I think we can come very, very close to what is budgeted," Green County Board Chairman Art Carter said. "We always planned to turn educated best guesses into hard numbers, and we really need to do that now."
That the bids came in a little higher than budgeted isn't necessarily a surprise, as Carter indicated. Nor need it be a setback for the county or for taxpayers.
This is where the hard work needs to begin on the hard numbers Carter refers to. The board and its committee must remain resolute about ensuring the project comes in at - or, better yet, under - budget. Board supervisors must not settle for the construction bid to end up being a dime over $10.9 million (as ridiculous as that sounds).
Committee members made the right move last week when they held off making any recommendations to the County Board. They first want the architecture firm Potter Lawson to work with J.P. Cullen to find ways to cut costs. The committee next will meet at 2 p.m. on July 7.
Hopefully, those cost-shaving talks are fruitful. If they aren't, the committee must not accept higher costs simply for the sake of moving forward. The taxpayers' dollars they are spending are significant, and there should be an expectation that the county treats them accordingly.
