The state Building Commission Wednesday added $7.1 million to the Union South replacement budget, bringing the project total to $94.8 million.
University of Wisconsin System Vice President David Miller explained that construction costs have been better identified as the project planning progresses. While a number of cost-cutting alternatives have been considered, including reducing the number of guest rooms from 120 to 60, the project remains above the estimated budget, and further cuts would contradict the student-approved scope of the project funded from $85.7 million in student fees.