The proposed new Marinette City Hall and Police Department project is moving ahead… but city leaders are now facing a much larger price tag than expected. During Tuesday night’s Common Council meeting, officials reviewed updated construction bids for the planned facility at the former Armory site.

Project representatives told council members the base project is now nearly one million dollars over the original seven-and-a-half million-dollar budget. When the proposed police garage addition is included, the project could come in roughly two-point-three million dollars overestimates. BOLDT Representative Katherine Hitch…

Officials also explained that several bids either were submitted incorrectly or were missing altogether, forcing portions of the project to be re-bid. Still, council members emphasized the importance of creating a modern police department and updated city hall facility for the future. Alderperson Dorothy Kowalski…

City leaders are now exploring several cost-saving options, including replacing part of the proposed police garage with a pre-engineered metal structure instead of the more expensive original design. Finance officials also laid out possible tax impacts connected to additional borrowing. City of Marinette Finance Director Jackie Miller…

Council members ultimately directed staff to return with updated bid numbers, revised borrowing options, and additional tax impact projections before making final decisions.

Officials say timing is critical because some construction bids are only valid for about sixty days.

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