St. Paul schools construction costs skyrocket. What’s the impact and what are the causes?

Josh Verges:

An architect and planning manager promoted to director in 2014, Parent has overseen a sudden increase in spending on St. Paul’s school buildings — from $30 million a year in 2016 to around $112 million each year since.

Starting in 2014, facilities staff met with schools and sketched out plans to improve the look and function of every building in the district. The resulting Facilities Master Plan was approved by the school board in 2016 and laid out $484 million in school renovations, expansions and maintenance projects to tackle over the next five years.

Besides modern heating and plumbing systems, schools are getting secure and welcoming entrances, more natural light, gender-neutral restrooms and more functional learning space.

The district is borrowing to pay for the increased spending by issuing long-term bonds. The average homeowner was told to expect a series of $30 property-tax increases each year.

But the initial five-year plan quickly went off track as costs soared and numerous future projects were postponed.