Sarasota News Leader

02/07/2014

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By the time all other factors were applied to the design, the cost was up to $28,500 per space. "The extra deck required $1.2 million; the firewalls on the east and west ends [are] $230,000," added Stancel. "The escalation of materials and labor is 13 percent, or $900,000. And these are all still estimates." Using another metric, the expenses do not appear totally out of line. "Nationally, the costs now are $52.51 per square foot. State Street is at $52.88," said Stancel. But the total square footage produces fewer actual spots in the State Street design because the build- ing is too narrow to accommodate four aisles of parking per floor. BRIDGING THE GAP Stancel and the city's financial staff poured over the city budget to find cash to fill the hole. Some municipal infrastructure projects use bonds, but this one is pay-as-you-go. To cover the $4.1 million gap, Stancel explained a scheme more like rob-Peter-to-pay-Paul. Some cash is available in the Commu- nity Redevelopment A g e n c y b u d g e t — about $880,000. And $300,000 is lying in the fund for the down- town redevelopment plan. So about $1.2 million in loose change is there for the taking. But that still leaves $2.9 million to go. Stancel then suggested several projects in the budget be deferred this year. In budgetary language, this is called "sliding to the right, into the out-years." Ready to be plucked is the budget for wayfinding, the $630,000 set aside for a signage initiative in downtown Sarasota to help people find their way more easily from point to point. There is $465,000 available for "downtown transportation" that could be harvested. And "enhanced mainte- nance" is a low-hanging fruit worth $50,000. Add this harvest to the loose change and it totals $2.3 million. For the remaining $1.7 million needed, Stancel suggested "inter-fund borrowing." In essence, the city would borrow money from funds set aside for fleet replacement and workers A diagram shows details about the building materials for the State Street garage. Image courtesy City of Sarasota I'm as shocked as anybody else. Steve Stancel Senior Planner City of Sarasota Sarasota News Leader February 7, 2014 Page 43

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