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February 12, 2008 4:55 PM
Is the Seattle School District suddenly awash in money?
Posted by Lynne Varner
The answer is no, but someone must think taxpayers are. The agenda for Wednesday evening's School Board meeting includes eye-popping requests for enormous sums for school construction.
Here's a glimpse: A $360,000 increase for architectural services for the new South Shore K-8 school, swelling that single contract to $2.5 million. Cost overruns of $10 million are predicted for building South Shore and remodeling Hamilton Middle School. The board agenda includes a request to transfer $2.7 million to keep the work going on Garfield High School, a project that will top $100 million when its completed. Oh, and the co-location of Denny Middle School with Sealth High School could use an extra $10 million.
Where will the money come from? Taxpayers. School bond measures approved by voters were the eqivalent of taking out a mortgage. Now the rising costs of building materials and more expensive trade union contracts is escalating the tab faster than a sub-prime loan. It is worth perusing the board agenda or attending the meeting to better understand why fixed cost in government is an oxymoron.
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