Polk County faces a difficult choice on the voting ballot come November 5th – residents of the area must decide whether the county’s court buildings should be renovated, which in turn, will increase property taxes.
But Polk County isn’t the only region facing reduced budgets and an uptick in the demand for new, updated government edifices. The nationwide trend is commonly debated at council meetings and amongst the general public – but a little-known best practice solution can resolve the issue once and for all: furniture asset management.
As government buildings, like Polk County courthouses, look to renovate and create a new, revamped interior, they should consider repurposing – as opposed to replacing – existing furniture assets. Through furniture refinishing, re-upholstery, hardware replacement and more, furniture pieces get a fresh look at a fraction of the cost. In fact, furniture asset management services can save up to 80 percent on a renovation project’s total expenditure – a factor that must be considered as government bodies try to complete necessary upgrades without raising taxes on residents.
In Polk County’s case, the area’s latest four-stage, eight-year renovation plan costs an estimated total of $89 million – a significant price drop from the renovation project proposed (and rejected by voters) back in 2008.
When asked about the cost of the project, Supervisors Chairman Tom Hockensmith said: “We think we’ve put together a very reasonable, cost-effective, safe approach.”
Polk County voters will decide if the ‘price is right’ come November. If rejected, the local government body will have to go back to the drawing board in hopes for a more cost-efficient, yet equally as impactful, renovation plan – in which furniture asset management must be considered.
For more information on Polk County’s proposed restoration project, please read an article from DesMoinesRegister.com here. To learn more about the better management of government furniture assets, please sign up for The Refinishing Touch’s free whitepaper today.