City Of Tulsa Looking For More Money To Finish The BOk Center

Friday, June 2nd 2006, 6:08 am

By: News On 6

There are budget-busting changes to the BOk Center in downtown Tulsa. Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor says the arena's opening will be delayed why the city looks for more money to finish the project.

News on 6 anchor Terry Hood says construction crews are still working on framing up the arena.

The crews are under contract until November, and we're told they're on budget.

Friday was the deadline for the mayor to approve the next round of contracts that could put the arena over budget by $32-million. Mayor Taylor approved 7 of the 13 bids to finish the arena. The city has now signed on with companies to do electrical, mechanical, and construction of the exterior metal wall. The mayor says all together those 7 bids represent $60-million of the arena budget.

Again, the crews working at the arena site are currently under contract will work until November. Then the 7 bids approved Friday will kick in to keep construction going.

In the meantime, Mayor Taylor says she'll be looking for money both in the city revenues and from private donors to finish the job. The mayor has said before the arena currently looks to be $32-million over-budget.

She says finding the extra money, could delay the opening of the BOk Center by 4 or 5 months.