March 11, 2005 -- Bids for the City Hall restoration project came in this week at about $60 million, well over the $44 million estimated earlier, officials said Friday.

"The amount surprised me, not the fact that it came in higher," said Patrick Curley, Mayor Tom Barrett's chief of staff.

The new bid is more than twice the $25 million the city estimated in 2001 the project would cost.

City officials will meet Monday to discuss the issue, Curley said.

"Obviously, we can't add $20 million to the capital plan" and keep streets and sewers repaired, he said.

The building was constructed in 1895.