The guaranteed maximum price of the new Cohn Intermediate School in West Baton Rouge Parish has jumped from $18 million to over $25 million, an increase the superintendent said could not be avoided amid high tariffs and the rising cost of steel.
“Tariffs could go up in six months, and we’re still guaranteed this,” Superintendent Chandler Smith said to the school board about the $25 million price tag. “It’ll never be as cheap as today.”
President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum imports that took effect in June. His administration added over 400 derivative products to the list Tuesday. And it isn’t foreign steel alone getting costlier — domestic producers also announced price increases, according to The New York Times, as a result of the protectionist measures.
Trump administration officials say the tariffs will even the playing field for American steel producers and help bring production back to the U.S., which they argue is important for national security. But critics say the tariffs are distorting the market and needlessly increasing prices.
Smith said the district was able to negotiate down the overall cost by $500,000. If it had gone any lower, they would have had to start cutting planned features for the building, he said.
The project will combine Cohn Elementary and Port Allen Middle School. The new Cohn Intermediate campus will feature a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math lab, library, gymnasium, music room and playgrounds.
The elementary wing is set to open next year, and middle school is set to open in 2027-2028.
“We’ve made any cuts that we possibly could, but we wanted it to still be an amazing campus we can be proud of,” Smith said.
Board member Matthew Daigrepont said the project is coming in slightly below market per square foot, at around $344. But costs are “steadily creeping,” he said.
“Brusly High was $302 a foot before COVID, and that had all the bells and whistles,” Daigrepont said. “So, if you want to see inflation at work — $302 to $344 in five years.”