The Winnipeg Police Service won’t be moving into their new headquarters until at least Dec. 21, as new concerns arise on the over-budget construction project.

Construction of the new headquarters at 245 Smith St. was previously the subject of a scathing audit and is currently under RCMP investigation.

On Thursday, a police press release revealed WPS will take possession on the building Dec. 15 and not begin moving into it until the 21st. Members of the city’s finance committee were told the late move is blamed on new “deficiencies” in the project.

Coun. Marty Morantz, the city’s finance chair, said he was frustrated to learn of the latest problems.

“After so many years building and so much taxpayers’ dollars going in to the project, people want to know when the police are moving in,” said Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge). “I’m as frustrated as every citizen is and I think the police are frustrated as well. I think everybody would have liked to see this go better.”

Coun. Scott Gillingham (St. James-Brooklands-Weston), a member of the finance committee and chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, echoed his colleague’s concerns.

“As far as the length of time that it’s taken to do all this, I think that’s frustrating to everybody,” said Gillingham.

Police were previously expected to move in to the former Canada Post building in August 2014, but were delayed when the building flooded. In March, police were expected to move in during summer 2015, which was later delayed to October.

Morantz said he felt $300,000 worth of minor issues blamed for the delay to December was a reasonable amount for a project with a $212-million price tag. Of course, the project’s original price was estimated at $135 million.

“This project has been riddled with all kinds of issues. I’m not pleased with it,” said Morantz.

An audit of the headquarters construction project found it failed to follow council rules and lacked oversight and consultation.

Councillors and staff are expected to move into the Public Safety Building (the current police headquarters) in the spring or summer of 2016 to allow for $4.1 million of repairs to their own building.

But city spokeswoman Michelle Finley said the revised WPS move-out date is not expected to delay council building renovations, even though the police move is expected to take six to eight months to complete.

Finley also said outstanding building work on the new headquarters includes adding backup power supplies and related work to ensure the essential service can operate throughout almost any condition.

joyanne.pursaga@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @pursagawpgsun