Renovation Blues

From the BCCT.

Some little elementary school, built in 1957, last renovated in 1972, needs to bring the renovation bids under $8 million. For one school? Eight million?

Please! Come to Morrisville! See the Emperor in action! He can renovate a whole DISTRICT for that kind of money. He knows people...

District hopes second round of renovation bids is better
By: AMANDA CREGAN

Tinicum Elementary officials are hoping the price to renovate will be cheaper now.

More contractors are looking for work, and it may just help taxpayers' bottom line.

Palisades School District officials are hoping for better estimates and more of them as they collect new bids for a complete building renovation of Tinicum Elementary.

When the district first advertised the work in April, only one contractor responded, and his bid was $3 million more than the school's $8.1 million estimate. Board members voted against it.

The school has put out a call in the new year for another round of contractor bids for Tinicum building renovations, which include a four-classroom addition and energy-efficient, geothermal heating and air-conditioning improvements.

Palisades facilities manager Dave Keppel is already optimistic.

"There seems to be a lot of interest in the job," he said. "We're just hoping to get a better response from contractors, and with that hopefully better prices."

Built in 1957, Tinicum Elementary houses 256 students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

The Pipersville school hasn't seen any major renovations since 1972, said Keppel.

Contractors' sealed bids are due by Jan. 29, and the school board will later vote to accept the best estimate.

This time around, competitive costs will prove even more crucial as homeowners in the Palisades district are already looking at a nearly $200 tax increase in the 2009-10 school year.

The school board unanimously passed its preliminary budget last week.

The district is facing about a $268,000 drop in revenue, mostly due to a $1 million increase in expenditures and a decrease in real estate transfer taxes.

Palisades' current tax rate is set at 100 mills, but a new rate of 109.894 is needed to cover next year's spending plan.

A mill is a tax of $1 on every $1,000 of a property assessed value.

Under Act 1, which limits how much Pennsylvania schools can raise taxes, Palisades may only increase its mill rate to 104.100.

But with a school construction exception, that rate could be as high as 105.616 mills or a $191 increase for the average homeowner next year.