Deschutes County commissioners OK courthouse expansion budget hike after Patti Adair voices deep frustration
'I don't want to keep losing sleep over this project'
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Deschutes County commissioners this week approved a $2.9 million increase in the county courthouse expansion project’s budget, pushing the total to $46.8 million – but the 3-0 vote came after Commissioner Patti Adair expressed strong consternation about the rising price tag.
“It’s not my money, it’s not your money – it’s the people’s money,” the commissioner told project leaders at Wednesday's meeting, pointing out that the initial project estimates were close to half where they stand now, at $27 million.
“We in Deschutes County are not made of money,” Adair said. “I want to know this thing is humming along, and we stay within our budget for the rest of the time. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. I don’t want to keep losing sleep over this project.”
In an issue summary for the discussion (see below), project officials noted a variety of factors that came into play, from unforeseen site conditions and a longer-than-expected design and permitting phase to design revisions. The county’s Facilities Department has identified reserves in a campus improvements fund to cover the added costs.
(Courthouse expansion discussion begins at 1:36)
Colleague Tony DeBone even recalled a lower figure, $25 million but said, “I do have confidence in this” going forward. Commissioner Phil Chang said the rising costs were “hard to hear” but pointed out that “labor, materials all cost more.”
County officials noted that other large public projects in the area also have encountered costs higher than planned. But Adair said, “If we knew it was going to approach $50 million, maybe we’d have built something smaller.”
Still, Adair also acknowledged that even smaller, personal renovation projects can run into the same pitfalls, budget and otherwise: “Ask anyone who’s remodeled their house – it’s a nightmare.”
County Administrator Nick Lelack promised to return to the board with monthly updates and thanked those overseeing the project “for doing everything you can” to keep costs down.
