At the Thursday, May 28, Lancaster County Convention Center Authority (LCCCA) Board Meeting it was announced that, largely due to recent setbacks, the current construction budget has fallen to a negative $423,106. As explained by Laura Douglas, Chair of the Finance & Audit Committee, the nearly half-million-dollar budget overrun is the result of recent change orders.
This announcement comes in the wake of two opening delays in the space of three months’ time, the second of which provided no replacement date. Budget overruns such as this are no surprise, given that construction, with all of its necessary expenses, has continued for at least three months beyond what was originally projected.
LCCCA Chairman Art Morris asserted that the Board is going to make every effort to close this $423,106 budget gap. As Morris elaborated, one way to save money is put a freeze on unnecessary expenses, like over $200,000 that had been set aside for stadium-style bleachers. Morris explained that, for the time being, expenses like this will be put on hold.
Also at the meeting, a few positive pieces of news were offered. Executive Director Kevin Malloy announced that an annual $3 million state grant will arrive in July, which is four months earlier than expected; Facilities Programming Committee Chair Ted Darcus announced that the fences surrounding the construction site will be removed within two weeks; and Morris announced that 72% of Convention Center and Hotel employees will be residents of Lancaster City, within walking distance of the Center.
