The overall budgeted cost for the francophone high school in Riverdale has grown from $27.5 million to $35.3 million – just shy of an $8-million increase in under a year.

The project is on track to begin seeing construction this spring.

As of July 2018, the overall budget for the school sat at about $27.5 million, the Department of Highways and Public Works (HPW) confirmed late last year.

That was around the same time that YG agreed to fork over $29.3 million to Whitehorse-based Ketza Construction for construction work.

In short, that meant the construction work alone was already costing YG more than it had estimated it would take to make the school a reality.

Consequently, the project clocking in over-budget may not necessarily be a surprise. (See the Star editions of Dec. 13 and Dec. 27, 2018.)

This month, though, documents shared by the Yukon Party showed more details, as the total budgeted cost now sits at $35.3 million, a figure that is inclusive of more than just the contract to Ketza.

Those other costs include “construction supporting contracts, including bus drop-off,” which ring in at $1,115,000 and “honorarium; furniture, fixtures and equipment; YG fibre; past work; contingency funding; and project contract administration including project management,” all of which come in at $4,925,000.

That means the $29,357,000 contract for construction, paired with these two category costs, bring the total budgeted project costs to $35,397,000.

HPW spokesperson Doris Wurfbaum confirmed last week the figures provided in those documents are correct.

The department added this morning the timelines around the school have not changed.

Wurfbaum also shed light on some of the other costs beyond the Ketza contract, which amount to just over $6 million, to bring it to that $35.3 million total.

As for the bus drop-off for the school, that “is being provided to Canyon City Construction under a YACA agreement,” so is not shown as part of the main contract.

YACA is a Yukon Asset Construction Agreement. A 2015 YG release explains that they are negotiated under some self-government agreements and are to help offer opportunities for employment, training, investment or new business for the First Nation that qualifies.

Such agreements are triggered when YG “intends to construct an asset within the Traditional Territory of the qualifying First Nation,” the release adds.

YACAs have also been a point of contention in past years, with the Kwanlin Dün First Nation taking YG to court as recently as 2008 over some capital projects.

Meanwhile, Wurfbaum added the honorariums are to fund work that is included in bidding on the design-build contract.

“Without paying an honorarium, it is likely that fewer contractors would bid, thus decreasing the competition and quality,” she wrote.

As for the costs around contingency, the department added such a fund was being held to make sure any changes or conditions to the design do not “disproportionately delay the project.”

The substantial performance date is set for September 2020. The goal is to have students in the new classrooms for the 2020-21 school year.

Other costs are furniture (most of which is not included in the construction contract and has to be budgeted separately, along with ICT set-up) and consultant fees. YG has a consultant to “review the proposed design from the design builder, to confirm compliance with the requirement, and to also conduct site reviews.”

Shared by the Yukon Party, the documents that show the $35.3 million total figure are dated April 8 and signed by Education Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee.

Addressed to members of both opposition parties, they were shared by the Yukon Party last Tuesday.