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DHHS requests $364.3 million in one-time spending, including $300 million for new state hospital
Summary
Department of Health and Human Services staff told the Appropriations - Human Resources Division committee the executive budget and amendments include $364,333,784 in one-time asks, led by a $300 million appropriation for a new state hospital and smaller capital and technology projects.
The Department of Health and Human Services asked the Appropriations - Human Resources Division to include $364,333,784 in one-time funding in the agency budget, including a $300,000,000 request to build a new state hospital.
Donna Auckland, presenting for the department, told the committee the executive budget and the department’s amendment packet list a set of one-time items and showed the total: “And then lastly, the new state hospital's on here for $300,000,000 in 1 time funding. So on the second page you can see total of all 1 time funding would be $364,333,784.”
Why it matters: the one-time package combines capital projects (the state hospital and the new state laboratory), shorter-term capital maintenance (bathrooms and a roof at human service centers and the Life Skills and Transition Center), and technology projects the department describes as essential for operations. Committee members pressed for detail on specific items and staffing implications as they consider which line items to fund.
Key items in the one-time package described to the committee: - State hospital (one-time): $300,000,000. - Public health/state laboratory capital and equipment (one-time): the department listed $55,100,000 in state/local COVID-related funding on the lab schedule and separately asked for $2,900,000 in one-time funding for the state lab in the amendment text. - Technology projects (one-time): $10,200,000 (described as two projects, one for a VR project and a second unspecified project). - Childcare program (one-time): $17,200,000. - Housing initiative (one-time): $14,500,000. - Capital repairs at human service centers and Life Skills and Transition Center (bathrooms, roof): amounts were listed in the packet as project specific (capital requests included in the “strategic investment and improvement funds” schedule).
Committee discussion and follow-ups - Rep. Wagner and others asked whether staffing would expand for the housing initiative and how temporary COVID-funded positions would be paid once federal COVID funds expire. Donna Auckland said some temporary positions previously paid with COVID dollars would transition to the requested funds and acknowledged the committee would receive a clearer staff-count and cost breakdown on request. - Members asked for reporting covenants for the FTE block grant and asked the department to provide schedules and interim updates on large capital projects. Donna Auckland and staff agreed to provide reporting formats and interim progress updates.
Context and next steps - The department provided a “brown” packet with base-budget FTE and operating detail and a “blue” packet with the new amendment requests and carryover schedules. The committee indicated it will work line by line through the proposals and requested more granular breakdowns (e.g., number of new FTEs tied to the housing initiative, timing and milestones for the state lab and state hospital projects).
Ending - Committee leaders asked the department for interim reporting on large capital projects and for a follow-up schedule showing how temporary positions and funding lines are expected to be absorbed after federal pandemic funding ends.
