As reported in the Guelph Mercury Tribune, the city is postponing a discussion around the Baker District redevelopment that was to take place at Monday’s council meeting after learning the projected costs of the current design of the new library are actually $14.4 million higher than what was reported by staff.

On Monday, councillors were to discuss a recommendation to reduce the size of the new library down to 65,000 square feet from 90,000 square feet. This would bring the city’s share of the cost to $34.18 million, down from just over $50 million under the original plan.

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Late in the day on Thursday, the city announced Monday’s council discussion will need to be postponed until the fall after learning the forecasted cost for the new library is actually $64.4 million, not $50 million.

“Whereas Council endorsed a 2017 business case that projected a cost of $46 million to build a new library, financial pressures since that time — including a cap on development charges that can be used to fund the library, the 10-year funded capital plan and potential impacts of recent provincial legislation have created a shortfall,” the city release reads.

Guelph acting chief administrative officer Scott Stewart was reached Thursday evening and said the city received the new information in a report from the library’s architect earlier this week. Staff didn’t have this information when the report for the July 22 council meeting was created.

Stewart said staff needed more time to get through this new information before discussing it at council.

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