A question of trust and accountability was raised at last week’s Tecumseh School Board meeting where it was announced that project costs for roof repairs, as well as ceiling and lighting, and cold water pipe replacements totaling $1,478,008 were not accurate.
The total of $1,478,008, was part of the $37 million bond proposal presented at the school election on May 6, 2008, by the Tecumseh School Board.
Since then, in a span of just 8 weeks, the total for these projects are now estimated at $859,007. Voters who rejected the bond request just saved the district $619,000. Congratulations.
The electorate, especially those who supported the bonds, should be asking their representatives on school board how such a drop in cost could take place. Again, trust and accountability is the issue — credibility remains the problem.
One school board member said the original cost estimates were needed to cover a “worst case scenario,” and an administrator said the changes for roof repair costs came after “closer inspection” following the election.
What is a reasonable contingency fund for such projects as these? And what about the rest of the projects in the $37 million bond proposals? Were they accurate, underinflated, overinflated? Who knows?
 And what should the district voter believe the next time a bond issue comes along?