Livingston Fighting Through Courthouse Project Price Increases

Livingston’s on-going Courthouse Square upgrades are costing more as delays in project approval continue.

Mayor Curtis Hayes said the original budget for the project passed in 2021. Since that time, inflation has taken its toll.

“I think we know that government moves slow, and we’ve been working on this project now for pretty close to two years,” Mayor Curtis Hayes said. “In the last two years, obviously items have went up that we will need to get the project done.”

Downtown Revitalization Chair Ray Evans presented the Livingston Board of Aldermen with the adjusted contractor’s costs at the board’s last meeting. One construction phase went from $83,000 to $103,000. Hayes said some of that increase came from some added electrical work approved to improve the lighting around the square.

Evans said he plans to ask T-DOT to increase the original courthouse enhancement grant amount to offset the increase due to inflation. He said that any overages on the project would be split between the county and city.

“We got a couple of different projects,” Hayes said. “It’s all about beautification of the courthouse lawn. We will be moving some things around. One of the fountains will be moved just a little bit.”

The city is moving things around so they can implement a new landscaping design. Hayes said the delays in projects like this are common but aggravating.

“I’d love to tell you the final stage, but the final stages wouldn’t be until we’re complete,” Hayes said. “If there’s five stages we are probably at stage 3.”

The deadline to complete the courthouse beautification is 2025.