VERONA, Wis. -- The plan to give the county-run nursing home in Verona a much needed makeover is on hold.

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The multimillion-dollar plan to replace this outdated home for the county’s most challenging cases of mental and physical disability has yet to become a reality.

"We've been trying really hard to keep this project moving," said Lynn Green, the director of the Dane County Department of Human Services.

Green said the $21 million budget set for the new Badger Prairie home is delayed after six construction bids came in several million dollars over the projected cost.

"The economy of course plays into it,” said Green. “The rise in fuel costs has had an impact on construction costs."

Looking for ways to bring down the cost the county along with architectural firm Horty Elving found $2 million in savings by redesigning some features of the facility like siding and landscaping.

"And that actually saves substantially in construction costs," said Green.

But she said the basic design is still the same. There will be 120 single-patient rooms with sun rooms attached.

"If you have to have a facility, that's the better way to do it," said Jennifer Ondrejka with the Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities.

Ondrejka advocates for in-home treatment rather than in a facility, especially in its current condition, WISC-TV reported.

"It is important that for those people who still are in those facilities,” said Ondrejka. “They should be treated with the same dignity that you or I would be and live in a place that doesn't look like it's made out of concrete blocks with 100-year-old floor tiles."

"We really want to have a good quality facility for our residents," said Green.

The revamped design will go to an oversight committee next week, and if approved, bids will be accepted in September with the hope of being move-in ready in early 2010.

Dane County isn’t alone in experiencing construction cost increases -- it’s the same story in Reedsburg.

Sauk County’s new Health Care Center is also delayed after bids came in well over the $13 million construction cost. After some redesign changes, bids are being accepted. A decision will come in September.