Northampton Borough Council last Thursday awarded more than $500,000 in contracts for the 4,000-square-foot addition to the fire station on Lerchenmiller Drive.

"Unfortunately, they came in $45,586 higher than budgeted," said borough Manager Gene Zarayko. "My early research stated that the cost should be somewhere between $125 and $150 per square foot. The bids came in at $136.40 per square foot."

He said he believes additional funding is available without the need to resort to real estate tax revenues.

"I feel confident that I could shift some monies from other projects so that we can proceed with the project," Zarayko said.

The bids were opened for the fire station addition Oct. 8.

Zarayko noted a bond issue approved earlier has $500,000 appropriated for various projects including the fire station addition, street improvements and playground equipment.

The borough does not plan on scaling down the project, which includes two bays and a training room for the firefighters.

Miller, Miller & McLachan, Northampton, was awarded the $389,000 bid as the general contractor. The heating, ventilation, air conditioning and plumbing (HVAC) contract will go to B.E. Boiler Works Inc, Red Lawn, for $66,300. Other contractors include S.A. Comunale Inc., Red Hill, ($49,028) and John Hoffmam Electric Co., Allentown, (41,758).

Construction on the addition is expected to begin shortly.

Completion for the addition is tentatively set for sometime in spring.

The groundbreaking for the addition took place Oct. 12.