Changes

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When the renovation project was initially presented approved in February [[2005]], it was estimated to cost around $9 million: $6 million paid by the City of Pensacola's [[local option sales tax]], $2 million from [[Escambia County]], and the remainder from grants and private donations. In [[2007]], however, revised projections put the cost closer to $16 million. According to redevelopment committee chairman [[Bill Greenhut]], owner of [[Greenhut Construction Company]] and leader of the fundraising efforts, "Construction costs have gone up around 40 to 50 percent, and I can attest to that."<ref name="pnj032507">[http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070325/NEWS01/703250332/1006 The show will go on] - [[Pensacola News Journal]], March 25, 2007</ref> Due to the crisis local governments are facing with [[property tax]]es and [[property insurance|insurance]], combined with the [[2007 City of Pensacola budget adjustment|City of Pensacola's 2007 budget shortfall]], fundraisers are were reluctant to ask for more public funding. However, Greenhut says, "If there's better news from the Legislature, we would like to go back to the City Council in April or May and ask for an additional sum of money."<ref name="pnj032507"/> On [[September 10]], [[2007]], the [[Pensacola City Council]]'s Committee of the Whole voted to provide an additional $6 million to the renovations, borrowing the funds from an outstanding capital improvement bond.<ref>"City to pony up for Saenger." ''Pensacola News Journal'', September 11, 2007.</ref>

The theater will is planned to reopen in fall Fall [[2008]]. Many performing arts groups that use the Saenger as their primary venue have found alternative sites for the 2007-08 season. For example, the [[Pensacola Symphony Orchestra]] will hold its "Masterworks" concerts at [[First Baptist Church]].