Whatcom County officials flag operating shortfall for proposed Crisis Relief Center, delay formal action

Whatcom County officials reported progress on planning for a new jail and an adjacent behavioral care center but said they will pause major operational decisions for a proposed 23‑hour Crisis Relief Center until the state resolves reimbursement questions.

At the Jan. 27 meeting of the Incarceration Prevention Reduction Task Force and Law and Justice Council, Kayla (Whatcom County Executive’s Office) told members the county has raised about $14.2 million toward a roughly $14.7 million Crisis Relief Center and shell space to accommodate future services, but that the project faces a likely multi‑million dollar annual operating gap if the state does not change how it reimburses care.

“We have fundraised $14,200,000 for this facility. We think we're looking at a $14,700,000 project,” Kayla said. “What we're seeing in King County is that about 50% of the clients are non‑Medicaid, and the state has no mechanism to bill for those clients.”

Why it matters: the county can cover much of the capital cost but cannot commit to long‑term operating deficits without jeopardizing other projects. County staff and task force members said the uncertainty affects whether they should proceed with schematic design, issue a services request for proposals, or wait for possible legislative changes.

Details from the meeting

- Funding and capital status: Kayla said the project has roughly $14.2 million raised against an estimated $14.7 million cost. She said about $11.3 million is state capital…