York City officials are chipping away at the pricetag for a modernized police station after the initial round of bids put the project about $400,000 over its $5 million budget.

The city's public works department tweaked plans and asked contractors to resubmit bids for electrical and HVAC work after the first round of bids opened on Sept. 5 exceeded estimates by tens of thousands of dollars.

Opened Tuesday, the new bids came in more than $200,000 lower.

But that leaves another $200,000 for the city to squeeze out of other contracts.

Public Works Director Jim Gross said he's optimistic they'll get there. He said the project's general contractor has tentatively agreed to cut about $100,000 from its original bid of $2,378,460.

"We're getting pretty close," Gross said Wednesday.

Also, the city did not receive bids for installing an information-technology system at the station when bids were first opened Sept. 5. Estimates put the cost of that work between $100,000 and $150,000.

On Monday, the York City Council agreed at a committee meeting to consider accepting bids at its Oct. 2 regular meeting - but only on the condition that the total pricetag is no more than $5 million, the amount of a state grant awarded for the project.

Gross has also said the city will not compromise on its ultimate goal to achieve accreditation for the York City Police Department, which will have full use of the building at 50 W. King St.

On Wednesday, he wasn't yet sure if he'd be ready to bring the bids to the council next week to be accepted.

When construction is finished, city police will have access to new prisoner cells, an updated evidence storage system and flood-proof locker rooms. They'll have more space to interview witnesses and suspects. Plans call for transforming the upstairs attic into a gym and training room.

Officials have repeatedly vowed not to spend local taxpayer dollars on the project. The goal is to start construction before November, Gross said.

- Eyana Adah McMillan contributed to this story. Erin James may also be reached at ejames@yorkdispatch.com.