Committee hears why Campbell County bus facility is overbudget; agency estimates $6–$8M shortfall

Agency staff updated the committee on construction work in Campbell County, saying the new high school is in early design and the transportation facility (bus barn) has exceeded initial budget estimates because of a site change, poor soils and extensive parking requirements.

Miss Carlson said high school design is between roughly 10 and 35 percent and that the district planned to advance a stadium package first. She said a smaller package to prepare temporary parking will likely be bid in January and a stadium bid package in February.

On the bus facility, staff and John Rex reviewed technical reasons the project is expensive: Campbell County operates a large fleet (agency staff reported about 176 buses and roughly 8,800 students district‑wide elsewhere in testimony) and the pavement design must account for heavy axle loads over large paved acreage. Soil conditions and a site move increased required site preparation and crushed‑base thickness; that combination drove the assertion that the project is currently over budget. The agency estimated a shortfall of roughly $6–$8 million and said it would first look to available funds in the 2024 appropriation pool (the $95 million appropriation) to close the gap.

Staff described cost‑reduction options pursued with the district and consultants, including reducing the paved area, adding geotextile fabric to reduce crushed‑base depth, staging work to leave training areas as crushed base (not paved) and stub‑in of underground utilities for future surface upgrades. The agency also noted Campbell County’s facility hosts training for other districts, which affects design and loading assumptions.

Committee members asked for additional metrics — including per‑student bus counts and more detailed cost breakdowns — and staff said they would return those figures. No final appropriation was adopted at the hearing.