More Rising Costs With Elmhurst D-205 Projects

ELMHURST, IL — Elmhurst school board members were told this week the costs for the district's construction projects continue to rise.

One board member hinted the district may have to reduce the scope of later projects. She said the district doesn't have an "unlimited bucket" of money.

Elmhurst School District 205's projects are the result of a 2018 referendum. Voters allowed the district to go $168 million into debt for construction work.

As of this week, the district is $18.1 million over budget with its projects. That was $650,000 more than a couple of months ago.

School board members were told the number may further increase by $200,000. This spending may be required because of city codes for sewers, according to the district.

Officials noted most of the over-budget number is the result of the expanded scope for projects. For instance, the new Field Elementary School is set to be a lot bigger than originally planned.

Upcoming projects include renovations at all three middle schools, auditoriums at York High and Churchville Middle schools, and York athletic field improvements. They total $37 million.

"The amount over budget could grow?" board member Jim Collins asked at Tuesday's finance committee meeting.

"It could," the district's facilities director, Todd Schmidt, replied.

Board member Athena Arvanitis said the continued cost increases concerned her. She suggested the board may have to rethink the parameters of later projects.

"We weren't able to predict this. Nobody was," Arvanitis said. "I think every district that's in major construction projects is facing the same challenge."

At every finance committee meeting, members are hearing about "more and more" costs.

"We don't have an unlimited bucket here," Arvanitis said. "Maybe there's an opportunity whatever is in our head as we're designing to be a little bit more cost-effective."

Schmidt said many of the upcoming projects are simpler with things such as corridor renovations. But he said the auditorium at Churchville could "potentially be scary."

Officials plan to dip into the district's bank accounts to cover the excess costs.

Hinsdale High School District 86, where voters approved $140 million in projects in 2019, is also seeing rising costs.