The immediate issue was spending roughly $275,000 for consulting engineer Gene Kruppa and his firm, BEFCO Engineering, to complete design work on the expansion work which is currently estimated to cost some $2.2 million for road and utility extensions.

The BEDC budget adjustments must still be approved by the Bastrop City Council.

BEDC President Joe Newman said few developable lots remain available in the original part of the industrial park, and other businesses have expressed interest in a Bastrop location.

Newman also suggested that perhaps half the $2.2 million expansion cost could come from current BEDC fund reserves of some $2 million. The rest could come from the 2010 fiscal year budget, avoiding the need for additional borrowing, he said.