The cash to pay for these expenses comes out of county tax coffers and is a normal part of doing business. Mike Sieving, the county's construction executive, said a lot of planning went into expense budgets, and a lot of oversight goes into payments. At this point we're controlling it pretty well. Expenses make up a small portion of the overall budget, but they can add up quickly, Mr. Sieving said.
Some contracts allow companies to mark up reimbursables.
Mr. Sieving said the construction manager is in town three or four nights a week, so the apartment is cheaper than a hotel room. We pay on this stuff one way or the other. The firm tests potential ballpark office furniture. They've been evaluating chairs, and GBBN is where they go. The contracts also require coach airline travel and no reimbursement on alcohol purchases during meals.