The state wants a developer to build a 225,000-square-foot office building within a mile of the State House for multiple state agencies.

Money to pay for pilings to support new building, but will not affect property tax rate.

Despite an additional cost of $500,000 and concerns about clay soil, councilors are expected to approve the needed funds to keep the project going.

Gardiner, Chelsea, Manchester and four other towns would benefit from the lower fee.

With construction ahead of schedule, the library should be open by this summer, rather than fall.

Councilors are scheduled to vote Thursday on the proposal, which needs another $500,000 for pilings to stabilize the soil on the site.

City officials want to keep trash and revenue from other area towns coming to the city landfill even as those towns consider less costly options.