Corrections & Institutions Committee reviews Veterans Home capital projects, staff ask for flexibility to move funds

The Corrections & Institutions Committee heard detailed updates March 14 on capital projects at the State Veterans Home, including plans for air‑handler replacements, a laundry renovation, generator and boiler‑plant replacement, elevator upgrades and a proposed reallocation of design funds to a heavily damaged wing.

Melissa, a Veterans Home staff member, told the committee the home is finishing an RFP for air handlers and expects to place purchase orders “within the next month or two,” and said the goal is to have units installed “before the winter.” The home’s preliminary counts include about 55 larger air handlers (estimated at $8,000–$10,000 each) and about 25 smaller units (estimated at $6,500–$7,000 each), a per‑unit breakdown the home said will be finalized in the RFP.

The laundry renovation also moved forward in discussion: Greg, a Veterans Home staff member, said the project shifted from several very large washers to a three‑machine configuration (25‑, 40‑ and 70‑pound capacities). The new washers and dryers together were quoted at about $85,000, down from roughly $153,000 on an earlier quote; staff said that change would save approximately $85,000 compared with the initial estimate.

On the mechanical systems, Veterans Home staff said the emergency generator and boiler‑plant replacement remains budgeted at $4,500,000. The home reported two feasibility studies are complete and that, following a selection of the preferred boiler type, an RFP should go out with anticipated bids by June or July. The home plans to apply for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs construction grant; staff said federal reimbursement for eligible construction typically runs about 65% and would be returned to the state if awarded. “I will not make this year’s deadline,” one staff member said of the federal grant cycle; the home will apply for the VA grant in the federal fiscal year FY 2028 cycle, and cautioned that grant awards are subject to the VA’s prioritization and available funding.

Elevator upgrades and basement dehumidification were discussed as a roughly $1,000,000 project. Staff said the elevator vendor will provide final costs soon and the intention is to begin work within months and complete the work by the end of the calendar year if possible; staff also said the elevator upgrade is listed on the VA construction grant list as a safety priority.

Committee members pressed staff on previously appropriated funds. The committee was told $260,000 was allocated for Veterans Home maintenance (used for door hardware and warranty work), and that $230,000 was allocated for resident care furnishings and security systems; staff said about $156,000 remains available from that $230,000 and that some furniture purchases had initially been charged to the wrong account but are being reconciled.

A central request from the home was to redirect an FY‑25 cash appropriation of $1,500,000, originally for design work on “Brandon and Cardinal” (B and C) units, to design work for A‑wing. Staff described A‑wing as one of the older building wings that “needs to be totally torn down and rebuilt,” estimating a rebuild cost in the $32–36 million range because of failing cast‑iron plumbing and federal health‑care requirements that now require private bathrooms. Staff asked the committee to include language in the capital bill that would allow the home to move the $1.5 million design allocation from the B/C design line to A‑wing design and to permit limited transfers between that $1.5 million line and the $4.5 million boiler/generator line for flexibility as bid prices and design estimates arrive.

Committee members discussed trimming a modest amount—around $100,000 total—across the two appropriations to account for over‑estimates and to create flexibility. No formal vote or final language was adopted in the meeting record; committee members said they will continue markup and incorporate transfer language in the bill drafts.

Staff emphasized implementation risks tied to external factors: federal grant timing and amounts, vendor availability and supply chain/tariff impacts that could raise costs. The home said it will proceed with projects covered by the state capital appropriation even if federal reimbursement is delayed or never arrives, and, when federal funds are later awarded for the same projects, the home intends to return the federal share to the capital fund.

The committee asked for written reports and cost estimates for the A‑wing condition; staff agreed to provide a written assessment and to follow up on account reconciliations for furnishings. The committee will continue markup of the capital bill and consider draft language for fund transfers and reimbursement routing in subsequent sessions.