ATTLEBORO -- Higher than expected renovation costs have delayed the opening of a full-service registry of deeds branch in the city.

Bids for construction work needed for the branch to be moved into the city-owned former downtown post office came in more than three times estimates, forcing a request for new bids and pushing back the opening until January, said David Simas, register of deeds for the northern district of Bristol County.

Simas said he had hoped the renovation would cost about $100,000, but two bids received for the job came in at $306,000 and $346,000.

`` The bids came in far in excess of what I was comfortable with, financially,'' said Simas, who added he still aims to get the branch up and running.

He wants the operation to be ready by Jan. 1. `` We're still going to do the project,'' he said. `` It's just going to cost more.''

Simas said he and his architect are working to pare down the scope of the work and to develop phases to spread the cost over another one or two additional years.

Requests for new bids are expected to go out in about two weeks, he said.

If the branch opens by January, it will be about six months later than the original opening date.

The need for the branch is increasing, Simas said.

A critical lack of storage space at the Taunton registry is driving part of the need.

Records are being squeezed out of that building's basement because it's in a flood plain and because of structural problems with the second floor.

Also, about 55 percent of business transacted in the Taunton office comes from the Attleboro area.

The city has a signed lease with the county for most of the first floor of the building for about $30,000 a year.