CENTERVILLE — For anyone in the middle of a construction project, the words “on time” and “under budget” are some of the sweetest in the English language.

All of the construction bids have been officially accepted, and the Davis Cultural Arts Center will now officially slide in with full amenities and a price tag of $14.3 million. Though the number reflects cost predictions made by the city earlier in 2009, some later estimates had the number reaching $15.5 million and lacking several of the upgrades and amenities that will now be included.

“It’s due to a combination of value engineering, design and a great bid climate,” said Centerville City Financial Director Blaine Lutz. “Through the efforts of the architects, engineers and construction team, and a very favorable construction climate, we have been able to make many upgrades to the facility.”

Construction is also on target for the theater to be completed on time and perhaps slightly early. Though it was originally announced as January 2011 during the arts center’s main groundbreaking, there is a chance that the theater may be open in time for the fall 2010 theater season.

“This is a bright new day for the arts in Davis County,” said Centerville Mayor Ronald Russell.

With the new cost estimates, the black box theater that had at one point been taken out of the plans (and returned at the request of county commissioners) will be able to be completely outfitted. The main 500-seat theater will also get three stage lifts and an Austrian curtain (the gathered curtains that are raised vertically), a better audio visual system, and other upgrades.

The money to cover the $14.3 million price tag will be coming from four sources. The bulk of it will be coming from an $11.6 million bond that will be paid back by Bountiful and Centerville’s Recreation, Arts and Parks (RAP) tax funds and money from the Centerville’s RDA. City officials have already factored the recession into their estimates for both revenue sources.

A third source of funding is the $2 million that county commissioners pledged from the tourism tax fund earlier this summer, $800,000 of which will go into construction of the theater. The final source is a fundraising project being organized by Rodgers Memorial Theatre and other volunteers. The fundraising project is expected to pull in anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million.

jwardell@davisclipper.com