Orange County reviews $76.3 million first-year capital plan; commissioners press staff on schools, crisis diversion facility and elections storage costs

Orange County commissioners held a work session April 22, 2025, to review the recommended first-year projects in the county’s 10-year Capital Investment Plan (CIP), a package that staff said totals $76.3 million for fiscal year 2025–26. The board discussed a mix of county facility upgrades, vehicle and IT replacements, parks projects and school capital priorities; no final budget adoption took place at the session.

The CIP’s year‑one breakout presented by staff shows $38.5 million in county capital projects and $34.1 million in school capital. Staff said the single largest county line item in year one is the Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion Facility, which accounts for about $22.7 million of the county total. The board also reviewed dozens of smaller maintenance and improvement projects across county facilities and parks.

Why it matters: the first year of the CIP determines year‑one appropriations and informs the county’s debt-service model and tax-impact projections. Commissioners pressed staff for clarifications about project scopes, contingencies, timelines and alternatives for items that carry high costs or uncertain funding, including school projects that will be partially funded with pay‑as‑you‑go (PAYGO) cash and proposed bond proceeds.

Most important details

• CIP totals and major drivers. Staff presented a year‑one recommended CIP total of $76.3 million, with $38.5 million of county capital and $34.1 million for schools. The Behavioral Health Crisis Diversion Facility is the largest single county project in year one (about $22.7 million). Staff said school capital includes the final installment of a supplemental deferred-maintenance program and planning/design funds for replacement schools.

• Crisis diversion facility: purchase complete; preconstruction underway. County staff confirmed the land purchase is complete and preconstruction services with a construction manager at risk (CMAR) have started. Commissioners were told that $285,000 was advanced from next year into the current fiscal year to cover early work; staff explained the $285,000 includes approximately $180,000 for preconstruction services, $35,000 as a payment‑in‑lieu to the Town of Hillsborough for future road connection work and the remainder for closing and permit costs. Staff said additional guaranteed maximum price (GMP) approvals will be brought to the board in stages with a final GMP expected in…