Construction projects at Ohio state schools for Blind, Deaf may be cut due to budget shortfall

From NBC4-TV in Columbus:

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A school construction controversy in north Columbus continues to unfold as students at the Ohio State School for the Blind and the Ohio School for the Deaf (pictured) wait to learn what will be cut from their future campus.

The project's construction manager, Bovis, and a project administrator from the Ohio School Facilities Commission met Wednesday to look at potential cuts.

In June, the state bid out the project with an estimated $28 million budget, but when bids came back in July, the lowest bid was 41 percent over budget, leaving the state $11 million short. The OSFC needs to trim an at least $8.5 million from the project after finding an initial $2.5 million in cost savings.

"We are looking to see if there are ways that we can change how we design the buildings how we use the buildings, what materials we use," said OSFC spokesperson Rick Savors.

Administrators from the two schools will meet next week next week with project administrators to consider cuts, after the initial bidding process attracted fewer subcontractor proposals than expected. Savors said the OSFC still does not know why so few subcontractors bid on the project, leading to higher prices.

"What we have right now is mostly anecdotal as to why different companies didn't bid for their particular reasons, so now we want to see if we can find some commonality."

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Ohio argues that the state union labor requirement on the project is responsible for the cost hike. ABC is running a $55,000 ad campaign on eleven Ohio radio stations that cites an Ohio Inspector General report that found OSFC Director Richard Murray abused his authority in favoring unions..

The ad states, "Governor Strickland, it's time to do your job. Fire Richard Murray now."

Murray rejects the charge and still has Governor Strickland's support.

On Wednesday, Strickland's spokesperson, Amanda Wurst, responded the ad, "Governor Strickland has always been on the side of working people and he isn't going to apologize for that. He believes that the men and women who build Ohio's schools deserve fair pay for a hard day's work. Apparently, Let Ohio Know, John Kasich, and other Republican allies don't agree with policies that support Ohio workers who are working hard to support their families and communities, but won't hesitate to shamelessly attack those who do."