Jennings officials are scaling back plans for a water plant upgrade after construction bids for the project came in higher-than-expected.

Mayor Henry Guinn acknowledged the impact of the inflation, stating, “The city opened a single bid for the water plant project. We had a budget of $10.3 million and the base bid was $21.2 million. We do not have a spare $11 million floating around.”

The city has about $9 million in grant money available for the project with an additional $1 million city contribution for engineering and other retired expenses.

The city rejected the bid and instructed its engineer to redesign the project with an $8 million target and a 20 percent allowance for inflation. The goal is to keep the project within the original $10 million estimate, Guinn said.

“This will reduce a large scope of our water plant,” he said. “We are going to have to remove the million gallon above-ground storage tank, graveling of the parking lot, and a lot of the aesthetics, including paint, new windows, doors and a clarifier.”

The project’s goal is to expand the city’s water production capacity from 3 million to 6-8 million gallons per day, ensuring a resilient water supply during repairs and maintenance, Guinn said.

The city hopes to rebid the project by March to meet the Dec. 31, 2026 project funding deadline.

Officials are also working with the Louisiana Water Sector Commission to explore reallocating funds and extending the project deadlines.

The city is seeking a portion of the nearly $60 million in unspent funds from other agencies that haven’t met spending prerequisites, such as rate studies and water bill increases. Guinn said the city has fulfilled the requirements and is requesting the Water Sector Commission consider reallocating some of those funds.

“We have to work closely with the Water Sector Commission in Baton Rouge and show them that we are taking diligent steps to reduce the cost and then simultaneously ask them for more money, which they are not easily giving out,” Guinn said.

City financial advisor Greg Maracantel said while some inflation was anticipated, the extent was unexpected. He noted that many other agencies are facing the same issue and are having to re-engineer their projects.

Guinn said advertising for the project at the same time as Lafayette Consolidated Government, Youngsville and Breaux Bridge impacted the city’s ability to attract competitive bids.

“There’s only so many competent contractors and qualified licensed contractors that can handle $10 million, $12 million, $15 million projects, and when all of the money is released at the same time, they focus on projects that are close to their home, that hurts us,” he said. “I think by canceling this bid, looking at some of the design specifications and re-advertising the people who were not awarded those projects in Lafayette, Youngsville and Breaux Bridge may come and give us a more competitive number.”