Any request for release of capital appropriations by the director of budget and management or the controlling board for facilities projects shall contain a contingency reserve, the amount of which shall be determined by the public authority, for payment of unanticipated project expenses. Any amount deducted from the encumbrance for a contractor’s contract as an assessment for liquidated damages shall be added to the encumbrance for the contingency reserve. Contingency reserve funds shall be used to pay costs resulting from unanticipated job conditions, to comply with rulings regarding building and other codes, to pay costs related to errors, omissions, or other deficiencies in contract documents, to pay costs associated with changes in the scope of work, to pay interest due on late payments, and to pay the costs of settlements and judgments related to the project.

Any funds remaining upon completion of a project may, upon approval of the controlling board, be released for the use of the agency or instrumentality to which the appropriation was made for other capital facilities projects.