I just learned that Commissioners Court has had to approve a $705,000 supplemental budget increase for insurance costs due to the new Justice Center.
For those newcomers, the justice center was originally conceived as a $77,000,000 project. By the time Judge Yarbrough had it put on the ballot it was an $85,100,000 project with a 10% contingency for a total of $93,100,000. The project has now overspent to about $145,000,000.
The worst part is that surprises like this little insurance doozy keep rolling in. As I understand it, the first round of “changes and redesigns” due to the Architects inexperience. Now these architects just happen to be among Jim Yarbrough’s LARGEST contributors.
As I have always said, I respect Jim and I believe he wants to serve the County. I just feel he has totally lost touch with working families and what it costs them to bear these incredible tax burdens. I also feel he is far too predisposed to use and allocate county resources in a way that is beneficial to himself, his party and his campaign... It’s just not right.