Projects worth millions, such as the construction of the Poinger school swimming pool and a new canteen, harbor more risks than usual when the world situation is uncertain: rising prices for building materials that are becoming scarce, rising energy costs and generally unforeseeable circumstances during construction. The Poinger municipal council is aware of these circumstances – but also that the town absolutely needs and wants a swimming pool and canteen, as can be seen from a press release from the town hall. Therefore, the members of the municipal council unanimously decided in a closed meeting at the end of October to continue the project. The committee is thus “sending a strong signal for investing in this future project,” as it goes on to say.
It was never really up for debate to cancel the project at this point, emphasized Mayor Thomas Stark (independent) when asked. In the case of the canteen, this is also not legally possible, because from 2026 there will be a legal right to all-day care for children – a canteen in the planned form is therefore absolutely necessary. However, it was important to him to readjust the project in view of the current crises and the associated rising prices and to bring the municipal council up to date.
The costs have now doubled
According to this, the costs have now doubled compared to the first estimate: Originally they amounted to just over nine million euros, at the beginning of 2021 the costs including a “risk buffer” were estimated at almost 15 million euros – and now they are almost 18.4 Million Euros. In spite of this gigantic increase in costs, there was again agreement at the said non-public meeting: Poing wants the project.
The town hall also reports that the first orders for the execution of individual construction measures have been awarded. The planners and the team behind the project control are to be commissioned with the next project stage.
For the 2023 budget and the financial plan up to the year 2026, the municipality wants to set aside almost 18.4 million euros and submit it to the municipal council for approval as part of the budget planning, as stated in the press release. The investment can be financed through reserves and thus without new loans.