The $7.5-million library expansion and renovation project that began construction in November is already $462,000 over budget.

The increase, which appears in the proposed 2012 capital budget, can be broken down into three elements.

The first covers the surprise of finding more asbestos than was expected in the old library building, along with the unexpected need to improve the existing flooring.

“So that hits you for $150,000, just like that,” said Peter Waterworth, Jasper’s new municipal manager. 

“Working with an old building as well as constructing a new building, you’re always going to get nasty surprises, and asbestos is a nightmare in every sense.”

The second pot of money is an increase to the project contingency, in case any more surprises pop up.

“The contingency was raised to five per cent. It was $159,000 before and it was raised to $337,000,” said Waterworth, noting that if there are no surprises, that money won’t be spent and the overall cost of the project will be reduced. 

The third element to put the project over budget is the result of expected savings that haven’t been realized. Since the contract was issued to Delnor Construction, the municipality has been working with the company to reduce the cost of the building by about $600,000, but, to date, the savings are $136,000 shy of that target, said Waterworth.

Although that puts the project another $136,000 over budget for now, Waterworth said in the future there is the potential for that number to decrease.

“It’s still an ongoing process, so these numbers might actually change.”

With the three increases, the cost of the library and cultural centre project is up to $7.96 million. 

Council approved the expansion and renovation of the library in May of last year and construction began in November.

When completed, the building will become a cultural centre, housing Habitat for the Arts, the Jasper Artists Guild, L’Association canadienne-française de l’Alberta, as well as the library. Also included will be a video conference room, a sitting area, a cafe, an office for the mayor and council and a multi-purpose room that will be used for council meetings, among other things.

The completion date is set for January 2013, and according to Waterworth, the project is on track to meet that deadline.

“It’s actually going ahead at a fair lick.

“I know the people on site are doing their best to have it ready, so it will look good for Christmas. I’m not saying it will be open, but they’re setting themselves targets inside the contractual time, which is good.”

The library is just one of a number of projects outlined in the proposed capital budget, which totals about $9.1 million for 2012.

Other projects include new wayfinding signs within the municipality, an emergency generator, the redevelopment of Patricia Circle, which is also expected to be over budget, and new sidewalks in front of the new Caribou Creek development.

Council will vote on the budget during its Feb. 21 meeting.