Given the greatest boost by a surge...

Given the greatest boost by a surge of nonresidential construction, the value of building contracts in Orange County during December soared 93% from the previous December; for all of 1984, contracts increased 52% from 1983, according to a report released this week by the New York-based F. W. Dodge Divison of McGraw-Hill.

Building contracts in the county last December were valued at $228.7 million, up from $118.77 million in the year-ago month. In 1984 there were $2.36 billion worth of construction contracts in the county, compared to $1.55 billion in 1983.

The value of nonresidential construction, including commercial, manufacturing and educational buildings, in the county last December was $83.155 million, more than double contracts of $31.3 million in December, 1983. And in 1984 nonresidential construction contracts totalled $1 billion, up 87% from $545.3 million during the prior year.

Residential building contracts last December were valued at $145.5 million, up 67% from $87.4 million in the year-ago month; and in all of 1984 they were worth $1.33 billion, up 34% from $1 billion in 1983.