NORWICH – A sub-committee has successfully slashed about $445,000 from the county’s West Park Place office building project, bringing its total price tag back within the previously agreed upon $3 million range.

Though details have yet to be disclosed, Chenango County Board Chairman Richard Decker said the consulting architects’ design “got more complicated than we wished it would have.”

The board voted to proceed with the architect’s plans to renovate the century-old jail and Sheriff’s Office in November 2007. The plans that were presented to the board in early March revealed a bottom line that was $3.8 million. Lawmakers quickly tabled the project.

Upon completion, the county’s Social Services department will occupy the two buildings. Commissioner Bette Osborne told the county’s financial committee members last week that DSS would be able to reimburse, through state-approved depreciation practices, approximately 80 percent of the project’s cost over an 18-year period.

County officials have yet to make a decision to apply surplus, borrow the necessary funds or do both.