Officials say unexpected contingencies have pushed the construction cost of Las Cruces High School about $10 million over budget. Las Cruces Public Schools Chief Finance Officer Terry Dean says despite the price the district has cobbled together financial resources to keep construction on schedule.
Officials say several seemingly insignificant policy changes contributed to more than half of the overage on the $84 million project.
The New Mexico Public Schools Facilities Authority reduced the square footage required per student but district officials say that change was made after the project began.
Dean said the district decided to proceed with the construction as designed.
The PSFA pays for 65 percent of projects out of state funding. Districts must pay the remaining 35 percent with money raised through local bonds and levies.
___
Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.