The Board of Education hosted an informational session to solicit feedback regarding the changes to the facility project on July 28th. Community members in attendance provided the board with feedback, including questions that were on their mind. Over coming days and weeks we will share the questions asked and responses from the board and facility team.
Question: Why in a hurry to run a special election in Nov? Can it happen next May?
Response:
School districts can run special elections at times approved by state law and they have to be at least 6 months apart from one another. The board's special election last March means the earliest another bond initiative could appear on a ballot was September. The board took its time reviewing the feedback from the post bond survey. They, and the superintendent worked with the facility project team to address as many concerns as possible while maintaining the integrity of the project. November is a traditional election time and aligns better with the timing of decisions that need to be vetted.
The state legislature is increasingly adding limits to when schools can run special elections. The passage of LB 521 last legislative session added more restrictions to when special elections can happen.
Recently the Nebraska State Legislature passed LB 521. Under this new law:
Special elections for bonds can now only be held in January, February, or July of even-numbered years, or in conjunction with primary and general elections; and
Special elections for bonds cannot be held in March or August of even-numbered years (existing law already prevented special elections from being held in April, May, June, October, November or December)
It is important to note that the longer this process runs, the more expensive the price tag becomes and the potential to have to spend significant dollars on HVAC, plumbing and electrical needs increases. This is especially true with our air handling units for the locker rooms, loop and dome gym. The systems in these areas are original to the 1969 building.
The more time passes the more expensive the costs are going to be. For example, the first project was for a total of $30.6 million dollars. If we were to run the exact same project the price would now be 31.4 million. This is an increase of $800,000 dollars in a six month time.
Going in November gives the contractors a full summer to begin work without as much traffic and interruptions to work around. An extra summer of construction keeps the timeline as short as possible thus keeps costs down as best as we can.
The estimated cost escalation is roughly 3% per year.
Ideal start for the project is March so that flexibility of construction with renovation spaces is maintained.
Starting in the fall would incur more winter conditions costs by the contractor.
Current market conditions have subcontractors hungry for work, meaning that subcontractors' bids are more competitive. It is impossible to know how long these conditions will last.