Tariffs increasing school construction costs in Massachusetts, "blows up the budget"
Massachusetts school districts working to open up new buildings are paying the price for increased tariffs. Costs for materials like steel and solar panels are now adding millions of dollars to their costs and blowing up budgets.
In Watertown they are building a new high school, being touted as the most environmentally friendly school in the country. But counter to the community excitement are the words of Watertown City Council President Mark Sideris. "It's a major headache, it's a major, major headache," he said.
Sideris says tariffs are impacting the solar panels for the project, which are coming from China. "The solar panels were approximately $1 million round numbers. If there was a 145% tariff, we would go to to $2.45 million, which completely blows up the budget," said Sideris.
Students in modular classrooms
Watertown students have spent the past three years off-site in modular classrooms with an anticipated opening date at the new high school in April of 2026.
"I think any delay for any reason would be disappointing, but that's mainly because we're just excited to see the new building," said Watertown High School Principal Joel Giacobozzi.
The city is looking at the possibility of a new solar panel vendor outside of China to help with costs, but it has to be the right fit. "They may not be able to give us our panels and they may not be able to give us panels in time to open for April 26 potential opening," said Sideris.
25% tariff on steel shipment
It's the same pain being felt at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School in Franklin, now constructing a new school to replace the current outdated facility. A steel shipment from Canada is due in two weeks, with an unanticipated 25% tariff that adds nearly $2 million to the bottom line.
"If we need more money, it's a problem," said Brian Mushnick, building committee chairman. "I can't go back to the stakeholders and say it's the tariffs, we need $8 million more."
Voters in 11 communities approved the budget for the project, so it has no wiggle room. "It makes us very nervous. Very, very nervous," said Mushnick.
"Impossible to price" new school project
After the high school, Watertown plans to build a new middle school. Preparing that budget now has become difficult.
"It's impossible to price it, because we don't know what tariffs are going to do when we're ready to build it potentially in the next year or so," said Sideris.
These communities say they've made a promise to their students, and they don't want it broken by the uncertain math of tariffs.
