The budget approved by voters is $24,019,104.

New, net zero, one-story construction on the Hartwell Campus, as displayed in the concept design.  It meets full program needs of COA&HS, PRD, and LEAP, maintains and/or enhances safety of play areas and pedestrian/cycling connections.

The budget for construction was $18.5M, and the two lowest bids are about $20.8 M.

The shortfall is $2.3 million.

Yes. Our last cost estimate (in March) indicated that material price increases due to current tariffs could be 5–8%. ($995K–$1.59M).  For March and April, material costs were up a compounded 1.2% according to ConstructionDive, a reputable construction website.  As of now, the largest increases are on tariffed goods— steel and aluminum up 5–6% over the past two months, but also on imported lumber. We also heard concerns about supply chain issues and a desire to extend the construction schedule by 2–4 months, at a cost of $400K–$800K. We immediately identified $600K in project deducts to address that last-minute impact, although these items would need to find additional funding in some way.

The $2.3 M would allow the Town to sign the GC contract and carry a responsible level of project contingency (8.3%) into this unstable economic market.

It could, but we'd increase the risk of not being able to absorb further market instability and additional change orders due to cost escalations, which might stop mid-construction.  It's about risk tolerance and maintaining reasonable contingency for the economic climate.  

Yes, three items (sunshades, kitchen appliances and outdoor playground equipment) totaling $413K were listed. These items are no longer in the construction CONTRACT, but we are still carrying them in the overall project BUDGET, unless the funds are needed to cover unexpectedly high change orders.  An additional $200K is budgeted for the purchase of furniture, fixtures and equipment, which can also be used to manage change orders.   In the end, if we need to use these funds for change orders, we will need to find alternative funding for these items.

Throughout the four design phases and subsequent cost estimates since March 2024, the CCBC has modified the design and reduced costs (value engineered) to ensure that we remained within budget (see list below).

They recommend Stabilization funds, which are intended for unforeseen budget deficits such as this. While this would be a large request, the fund balance would remain at a very healthy level even after these funds are used.

By using Stabilization funds, there is no immediate impact on the tax bill. However, using these funds now means they will not be available for future expenses.

Stabilization funds require a 2/3 vote of approval at Town Meeting.

We plan to begin mid-July 2025 and complete construction late Fall 2026.

If funding is approved in the June 25, 2025, Special Town Meeting, there should be no impact to the construction schedule.

The CCBC, keeping to the $24.019 M budget approved at Town Meeting in March 2024, would need to restart the entire process and redesign the building. We would lose the $2.0M already spent and would spend another $1.5–$2.0M in redesigns and $1.5–$2.0M in escalation costs.  This would add approximately $5.0M+ of unanticipated expenses to the original project budget, making it impossible to meet the full program approved by the town. And there is no "no-cost" option going forward, as the Bemis Hall and the Pods renovations have already been calculated at app. $20M (in FY28 dollars).  Additionally, we would also need to address unbudgeted operating and maintenance costs for the Pods in FY26.

• Reduced scope of pavement and grading
• Reduced the number of parking lot light fixtures
• Reduced the overall square footage of the building and lowered the building height
• Simplified the layout, ceilings, and millwork
• Simplified the large partitions
• Converted the roof from metal to standard shingles
• Converted exterior from slate to terra cotta
• Reduced and simplified the patio doors
• Converted windows from aluminum to fiberglass
• Reduced and revised materials for exterior canopies
• Simplified the mechanical
• Simplified the electrical and removed the automatic backup generator
• Reduced exterior finishes