News Summary

HAMILTON — In 2005, inflation on the costs of new construction stood at

13 percent.

The rise in the cost of gasoline also is a rise in the price of petroleum, and petroleum is a component in many building materials, industry experts say.

That translates to a rise in the cost of everything from new home construction to retail and industrial construction.

Hamilton City Schools officials are nervously watching those increases and hoping their bond issue passes Nov. 7 to fund construction of new schools. If it is approved, the 4.91-mill bond issue will generate the local share — $72 million — to construct eight new schools. The Ohio School Facilities Commission will kick in $120 million of the cost.

If it fails, the district most likely will try again, but the longer they wait, the more inflation makes the cost creep up, officials say.

In April, the Ohio School Facilities Commission's budget increase was

8 percent, according to Todd Thackery of Steed Hammond Paul Inc.

"What that means to the Hamilton City School District is that the longer voters wait to approve the bond issue, the less OSFC dollars will fund," he said. "The citizens of Hamilton can get more for their dollars this year than next."

The district's 14 elementaries range in age from 47 to 100 years old. The cost of the 28-year bond issue to the owner of a $100,000 house will be $165 a year, or $13.80 a month, officials said. If it does pass, construction could begin in 2007, according to district officials.

Last year, it cost $120,000 in repairs to get Hamilton schools ready to go.

Madison Elementary Principal Deborah Alf said that even though repeated repairs have been made, new leaks keep appearing on the school's roof during downpours, "which has resulted in loss of instructional and teaching materials."

Also, she said, the building has exceeded its electrical capacity, which results in frequent outages.

The Jefferson Annex — constructed in 1904 — houses kindergarten and first-grade students.

Older buildings like the annex "are aesthetically beautiful but not equipped to handle the technological demands of 2006," said Principal Mary Anne Hughes.

When the building was updated last year, Hughes said, it had to be wired for computers, telephones and televisions.

"The building was built before TV was invented," Hughes said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2158 or lebbing@coxohio.com.