Taconic High School Project Budget Expected Monday
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The final design and budget to build a new Taconic High School will be presented on Monday.
"We are at a point where we are making crucial decisions," said Superintendent Jason McCandless.
Estimators will provide a proposed budget for the project at the School Building Needs Commission meeting on the Monday, March 2, at 5:15 in the Pittsfield High School library. So far, the project has been estimated at $115 million, with the city paying about $45 million.
McCandless said the project has been redrafted slightly since the last time it was presented. Consultants were expected to have a draft budget on Feb.9 but that meeting was canceled because of the weather.
"That meeting you will hear the final design and budget for the new Taconic High School," said School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon.
The commission will see the budget and final design specs and, on Monday, March 9, they are expected to vote on it. In April, the City Council will be asked to borrow the total amount of the budget. The state will reimburse the city throughout the course of the project.
"This is likely the most important meeting we've had thus far," McCandless said of the decadelong process.
The commission has already chosen to go with a construction manager at risk, which means once the budget is approved it can't change. The construction manager assumes the risks of change orders.
"It will not go above that final budget," McCandless said.
Tags: school building committee, school project, Taconic High,
