Public Works Minister Derrick Burgess yesterday said the police/court building would have a maximum three percent cost overrun and should have full occupancy next month.But Shadow Minister Patricia Gordon-Pamplin said that takes the total cost of the building to $94.5 million a rise of $26 million, or 25 percent, from expectations when the controversial project began in 2007. Mr Burgess yesterday gave an update on the Dame Lois Browne-Evans Building which missed the opening deadlines he imposed in December last year.Initially due to open in August 2010, Mr Burgess had pledged on December 4 that it would be fully constructed by December 31 and officially open around a month later. Yesterday, he said the site remained a beehive of activity as vendors delivered and installed office furniture and appliances, while IT staff set up technical equipment.Mr Burgess told the media: “Over the next month, we shall see this magnificent building reaching 100 percent occupancy, with major public announcements to be made regarding the move of the Magistrates’ Courts, the Department of Court Services and the Hamilton Police Station in particular.”The Ministry of Youth, Family, Sports and Community Development headquarters is expected to move into the fourth floor of the south building this weekend, with the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs following shortly afterwards.The Ministry of the Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Services is expected to begin moving onto the fifth floor of the north building next week, shortly followed by the Department of Planning.Mr Burgess said the completion date had been put back due to variations in the works.Then Works Minister Dennis Lister said the project would cost $75 million in 2007, but Mr Burgess says the total allowed funding was set at $78 million. An increase to $91.8 million was granted by the House of Assembly to cope with changes to the drawings, he said.Yesterday, Mr Burgess said he expects the project will have a maximum three percent cost overrun, saying former Auditor General Larry Dennis says a ten to 15 percent cost overrun is normal on an initiative of such size.Mrs Gordon-Pamplin said yesterday: “The Minister ought to quantify cost overruns in terms of original promise to the people of Bermuda, rather than basing his analysis on revised estimates.“When former Minister Lister signed the contract, there was a $75 million cap, and an arrangement in place which held the then contractor liable for any costs above that threshold.“The final cost of this building, including the three percent to which the Minister referred, will be somewhere in the region of $94.5 million, an increase over initial expectations of about $26 million, or 25 percent.“Against these numbers, the Minister can quantify those items that led to increases.”The Shadow Minister says some of the Minister’s reasons for the rising cost were “inexcusable”, such as stairs being less than minimum width, and security at key entrances being overlooked.She added: “The Government would also do well to admit that the arrangement with the initial contractor failed and the cap, that was so highly touted, disappeared.“In this way, the people of Bermuda will be able to see the naked truth, rather than a flowery version of what happened after the final financial target had been moved to minimise the real impact of cost overruns.“It is having those extra millions from this and every other capital project that would have stood the Government in very good stead as they attempt to grapple with this year’s Budget amid a culture of lack of accountability.”