School renovations at risk as bond money runs low

Broward projects expected to be over budget

Dozens of school renovations could be in jeopardy as School Board members say they may not have enough money to cover skyrocketing costs of the $800 million bond referendum.

The latest capital budget shows that Broward schools have about $58 million in reserves to cover cost increases for projects. But one project alone — renovating and rebuilding part of Northeast High in Oakland Park — is expected to cost at least $23 million more than expected. The cost of Cypress Bay High is expected to cost at least $10 mil- lion more than budgeted. And many other projects are expected to be over budget too.

“We have a huge problem,” board member Laurie Rich Levinson said. “We need a clear picture of how we’re going to get this done because we don’t have the money.”

The budget has already made big cuts, including not upgrading buses or covered walkways, both of which were part of the district's long-term plans.

“We have very limited resources and we are faced with making some tough decisions,” said Judith Marte, the district’s chief financial officer.

She said the district may be able to finance the projects by borrowing money from future years of the bond program, but that puts the completion of the program at risk, she said.

Marte said the “board cannot approve contracts you don’t have funds for.”

Board member Robin Bartleman was alarmed by the shortfall.

“We need to have a plan going forward,” she said. “We’ll need to prioritize which projects will come first while we wait for money. This is a storm.”

Superintendent Robert Runcie said he doesn’t expect projects in the future to be as expensive as ones that have been approved recently, such as Northeast and two projects whose costs increases were approved in last year’s budget, Stranahan High in Fort Lauderdale and Blanche Ely High in Pompano Beach.

“We have the most complex and expensive projects on the front end,” he said. “We’re going to be spending more than our original estimates, but I wouldn't foresee the remainder of the projects being as high. These are older schools.”

Levinson said many other old schools are also slated to be renovated.

District officials said they will look for more sources of revenue.

The school district says all projects are expected to be completed by 2021, although construction experts have voiced doubts that will happen.