BEVERLY — Mayor Bill Scanlon last night pegged the overall cost of the high school project at $83 million, about $5 million more than he said he expected.

"I expected $78 million, so it is slightly above what I had been hoping for," he said.

Scanlon revealed the $83 million figure for the first time at the City Council meeting at City Hall.

The city received a low bid of $66.9 million on Friday for the construction costs of the project, but Scanlon said that total does not include architectural and engineering fees, furniture fixtures and equipment, technology and "contingencies."

"When all these costs are included, the entire project at the base bid level is expected to cost $82 million to $83 million," he told city councilors.

Scanlon said he expects the state to pay at least 55 percent of the cost through the Massachusetts School Building Authority. He said he will meet soon with the agency to determine the exact percentage.

Scanlon originally estimated a new high school to cost $65 million. But he said that figure did not include the $3 million it will cost to remove asbestos that was discovered in the current high school, nor the cost of more expensive but longer-lasting terrazzo floors. The floors will cost $800,000 but will last 50 years, he said, as opposed to the 10-year life span of tile floors.

"When these are included along with 21âÑ2 years of inflation and rapidly rising energy prices, the bids do not seem out of line," he said.

The $83 million does not include a 2,200-seat artificial turf stadium with lights next to the high school, which Scanlon said he would "dearly like to see be included in the project." The stadium would cost $5.8 million.

Scanlon said the city can't afford to pay for the stadium, but he said it could be done if the city can raise $1.5 million in private donations. The state would match those donations with $750,000, he said. The city would also save the estimated $800,000 cost of repairing Hurd Stadium, the school's current field, and transportation costs to bus teams to Hurd.

When you add up those numbers with state reimbursement, Scanlon said, "We could have the field, the seats, the lights, the rest rooms, locker rooms and concession stands at no cost."

The City Council must approve the project. Scanlon said he will return to the council asking for a vote once he knows the exact reimbursement from the state.

The project calls for building a four-story high school in the lower parking lot of the current school on Sohier Road and renovating the field house, cafeteria and auditorium. The current high school wings would be knocked down. The project is scheduled to start this fall and take about two years.