KSD construction costs plummet
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Heather Sams has a child at Kennewick's newest school, Cottonwood Elementary.
"Our community is growing so fast - more kids all the time. We do need larger schools - more room," said Sams.
To her, education is more important than any cost.
"Anything to better education for our children long-term, no matter what the cost is," added Sams.
But that bettering of education isn't costing as much as predicted. You can thank deflation. After the first two years of payments to the bond, prices dropped.
"Part of that's just the economy - times are tougher - people are bidding things a bit harder - we've gotten great bids," said Project Superintendent Doug Carl.
Four projects under the bond are finished. Canyon View, Southgate and Sunset View Elementary have all been remodeled. Cottonwood was built from the ground up.
Because of that, Cottonwood was the largest chunk of the taxpayer bond. It came in at almost 13 million - 3 million under projected costs.
The numbers are even more impressive for Canyon View and Southgate where roughly three-million was knocked off each total as well. The original budget for these schools were about a third less than Cottonwood's construction.
Cascade and Lincoln are yet to be finished. And each is projected to come in two-to-three million less than estimated. However, those numbers are not yet extended. Final costs are projected to be even less.
"We know those prices have crept back up, but that initial drop has kept everything under our initial cost estimates." said Carl.
Which gives parents comfort in knowing how dollars are being saved while spending on our future in Kennewick.
"Our community is growing so fast - more kids all the time. We do need larger schools - more room," said Sams.
To her, education is more important than any cost.
"Anything to better education for our children long-term, no matter what the cost is," added Sams.
But that bettering of education isn't costing as much as predicted. You can thank deflation. After the first two years of payments to the bond, prices dropped.
"Part of that's just the economy - times are tougher - people are bidding things a bit harder - we've gotten great bids," said Project Superintendent Doug Carl.
Four projects under the bond are finished. Canyon View, Southgate and Sunset View Elementary have all been remodeled. Cottonwood was built from the ground up.
Because of that, Cottonwood was the largest chunk of the taxpayer bond. It came in at almost 13 million - 3 million under projected costs.
The numbers are even more impressive for Canyon View and Southgate where roughly three-million was knocked off each total as well. The original budget for these schools were about a third less than Cottonwood's construction.
Cascade and Lincoln are yet to be finished. And each is projected to come in two-to-three million less than estimated. However, those numbers are not yet extended. Final costs are projected to be even less.
"We know those prices have crept back up, but that initial drop has kept everything under our initial cost estimates." said Carl.
Which gives parents comfort in knowing how dollars are being saved while spending on our future in Kennewick.
