Accounting for Lift Station No. 10 cost overruns

The Town of Paradise provided an update to the public on March 4 regarding the status of the construction of the new lift station No. 10 at the intersection of Topsail Road and St. Thomas Line. The Town stated the project is on budget. This information is false and misleading as the project is over budget as of that date by $ 3.6 million, according to the information approved by council and reflected in the council minutes.
The initial budget was $25.1 million for construction and engineering, and the total cost as of March 4, 2025 is $28.7 million.
A quick review of the Council Minutes will disclose the original budget and all of the change orders. I have attached a summary of all council motions pertaining to this project and as noted, the project is in excess of the budget by $3.6 million at this time.
Why does the Town continue to mispresent the facts with respect to this financial quagmire? Is it deliberate so that the cost of the project is presented with a positive political outcome? Is it possible that the people generating this information simply do not understand the math?
Perhaps the taxpayers of Paradise may wish to ask council members why this deception continues.
Allan English
Paradise