City officials say the cost of the Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch Flood Control Project might approach $48 million, $16 million more than the Army Corps of Engineers' estimate when the city passed a half-cent sales tax to fund 25 percent of the project in 1988.

"The cost to the city is now estimated at between $10 million and $12 million," city Finance Director John Richborg said. "I think it's going to be closer to the higher number."

The Corps is financing 75 percent of the project and the city the remaining 25 percent. In 1988, cost projections showed the stormwater channel and hiking and biking path linking Shawnee Park and a proposed dry detention reservoir north of Boutin Drive would cost $32 million. The cost began to escalate from $32 million when the project was initiated in 1990. It has grown since.

City officials said widening and concreting the channel cost more than expected. A Corps spokesman said weather delays also have contributed to the increased cost.

Despite the project costing more and boosting the city's 25 percent contribution by $4 million, city officials say they aren't upset with the Corps.

Richborg said the half-cent sales tax, which began Jan. 1, 1990, has generated more revenue than originally projected. He said the city anticipated in 1988 meeting 25 percent of $32 million, or $8 million. And even though the project will cost more, Richborg said at this point the city shouldn't have trouble paying $12 million.

City merchants already have collected more than $7 million in five and one-half years.

"It's more than we expected," Richborg said, "and if the growth rate froze and we kept the same rate from here on out, we would have more than we needed for the project."

He said the city reworks its sales-tax projection every six months or so. Meanwhile, city engineering crews sit down with at least one Corps official and the contractors working on different phases of the project every week for progress updates.

The project cost the life of Darron L. Jansen, 23, of Oran when a steel beam fell from a crane and struck him in the head.

"Precautions have been taken to make sure nothing like that ever happens again," said Ken Eftink, the city's development director.

Officials hope the project will be completed by late 1997.

SALES TAX $

Flood Control Project Tax

1990 $ 952,679.65

1991 1,180,896.83

1992 1,263,601.61

1993 1,341,536.79

1994 1,495,306.85

1995 952,719.85*

total 7,186,741.35

*As of June 30.

Data provided by Mary Thompson with the city's finance department.