Due to rising costs from inflation and continued supply chain challenges, bids for the construction of the project came in 5% higher than budgeted. While the FHS Building Committee did plan from the beginning for escalation of costs over the length of the project, the unpredictable rapid price escalation in the global market outpaced all estimations.
Per the June 2021 referendum approving the construction of a new FHS facility, the Town is authorized to spend $135.6M. Price escalation brings the total cost of the project over the authorized amount. Another referendum is the required procedure, per the Town Charter, to increase the authorized amount.