Construction cost of Water Treatment Plant 4 currently unclear
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Water Treatment Plant Number Four could cost taxpayers more than expected.
An internal memo from City Manager Marc Ott to Austin’s City Council and Mayor Lee Leffingwell gave notice that one of the phases of the plant’s construction could cost more than the $359 million initially estimated.
“We were guaranteed a fixed price," environmental activist Paul Robbins said. "This violates the spirit if not the actual contract, for the construction manager at risk."
Before construction on the plant was approved, Council Member Bill Spelman was an open critic of the project.
"If we're tens of millions of dollars over budget, we haven't been building it right and we need to build everything we build right,” Spelman said. “Whether I am in favor of doing it or not, I am always in favor of doing things right."
YNN reached out to the City Manager’s Office, but Marc Ott declined the opportunity to comment.