The renovations are one step closer to getting underway after the Council Rock School Board of Directors approved four bids and other professional service agreements Thursday night.
The Board approved bids for general and other contractors that would give the project a budget of $17,987,390.
Douglas Taylor, Supervisor of Operational Services, said the bids were at historic lows, based on the current bidding climate.
However, the original project cost, first calculated in 2008, was almost $3 million lower.
Taylor said there are a few reasons for the increased cost, including a 13 percent inflationary increase, extensive site work, complexity of new construction with the limitations of existing systems and multiple construction phases due to the building remaining occupied.
They also voted to apply for PlanCon Parts F and G, a program that would allow them to be eligible for state reimbursement. Bob Reinhart, Director of Business, said that Gov. Tom Corbett's proposed budget had a line item that would remove the funding. However, the state budget is still in process so he believed the PlanCon reimbursement for Holland Elementary would go through.
In other business, the board passed a resolution that will allow property owners to pay their real estate taxes in installments throughout the year. Board Member Jerold Grupp noted that in paying the tax by Aug. 31, tax payers receive a 2 percent discount on the fee. If they paid it in installments, they would lose that discount and essentially the district would make more revenue.
The next meeting is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 15 in the Chancellor Center.
