Belleville Councillor Paul Carr at city council, August 27, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville councillors grilled city staff Monday night on the latest report showing a $3 million increase in the price of the new police station.
Earlier this summer, council approved a $23 million budget.
However, in the past six months, various increases have pushed the cost up to over $26 million, a 16% increase.
A consultants’ report detailed why the costs of some materials and labour increased so quickly. The main reason is an overheated construction market in the region.
Councillor Paul Carr complained that he had been assured of the $23 million budget price at the time of the vote, earlier this summer, but staff had already seen the escalating prices.
Belleville CAO Rick Kester at city council August 27, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
CAO Rick Kester explained a tender was out “before a meeting of the experts” and it was constantly being redesigned. “Going forward with bigger projects we should not put a number on it,” he said, noting this number was from 2013.
Councillor Mitch Panciuk.
