Butler County Commissioners awarded about $32 million in prison construction contracts at a special meeting Monday.

County Chief Clerk Bill O'Donnell said the contracts put the project at an estimated $34 million-plus, depending on change orders and other problems that may occur.

But Jack McMillin, county controller, said that figure is actually closer to $40 million when architectural and site preparation costs are added.

McMillin went on to say that he thinks the real cost of the 512-bed prison will reach $50 million before the doors are opened in late September 2007.

Three years ago, county commissioners agreed to a $30 million bond issue to help pay for the prison, as well as other county projects.

With the project nearing $10 million over that, commissioners agreed to a few alternates within bid specifications and the scope of work on the prison in an attempt to save money.

O'Donnell and county solicitor Julie Graham both pointed out that county officials are finding other ways to help pay for what were to have been additional projects covered by the bond issue, such as state financing of renovations and updates to the county's Sunnyview Nursing Home.

After the commissioners awarded the construction contracts, McMillin said that about $5 million has already been spent on land acquisition, demolition and site preparation, plus architectural fees.

The $34 million in contracts are:

$21.932 million for general construction to A.G. Cullen of Pittsburgh

$572,500 for elevator construction to Otis Elevator of Pittsburgh

$709,403 for kitchen appliances to Appliance Contracts of Grove City

$154,358 for laundry equipment to Super Laundry of Ambridge, Beaver County

$2,781,100 for plumbing and fire suppression to Ender's Plumbing of Kittanning, Armstrong County

$2,508,000 for mechanical systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems to Wayne Crouse of Pittsburgh

$3,149,000 for electric systems to Clista Electric of Pittsburgh for a total construction cost of $31,742,361.

O'Donnell said the entire project's cost now stands close to $34 million, or about $70,000 per bed.

Commissioner Glenn Anderson pointed out that by accepting the lowest bids instead of the highest bids in each construction category the county saved about $2 million.