Project Budgeting

Budgeting Methodology:

The district determined very early on in the design process the importance of properly budgeting the project to ensure that the bonding value requested from the Lockwood voters would be of a sufficient value to complete the design vision established during the past four months of public meetings and community work sessions.

Led by the district’s architectural team, a group of cost estimating professionals was brought on board to evaluate the building design, stadium/sports/gymnasium facilities, auditorium, library/technology center, site/groundwork/foundation system evaluation, parking area layout, public utilities requirements, required right-of-way infrastructure, furniture/fixtures/equipment costs, and soft costs associated with this new high school. This cost estimating team consisted of a nationally recognized school-facility cost estimator, a local construction company who recently completed two (2) middle school projects in Billings and is under contract for the new high school in Bozeman, a kitchen equipment specialist, a sports facility specialist, and a civil engineering team. In addition to this team of qualified estimating experts, the preliminary project design was also reviewed in detail with the Montana Department of Transportation, Yellowstone County Commissioners, and the Lockwood Water & Sewer District to determine additional costs that would effect the project’s bottom line.

Establishing accurate bonding numbers is essential to the successful implementation of the vision. Community input has led the design team to budget for a facility that will serve the community and it’s growth for the next 15-20 years in hopes of not returning to the voters for an additional high school bond measure during that time.