Health and Human Services told the Fiscal Committee on Nov. 21 that a federally required element of a building project was added late in the budget process and the agency assembled a capital stack to cover it.

“As we started out with…we ended up costing us quite a bit more,” Commissioner Laurie Weaver said, explaining that the agency used a combination of add alternates, general funds and capital project authority after a restriction was lifted this legislative session that had limited which funds could be used for the facility. Weaver described this request as the last of available funds for that piece of the project.

Senator Waters pressed the agency on timing and whether sale proceeds from existing property (Manchester/Hampstead were mentioned) were being relied on. Weaver said the agency is not counting on sale proceeds to finance construction and that they have what they need to reach an occupancy date of about a year from now. Charlie Arlinghaus noted the planned sale of the Manchester property will be “enormously complicated” and that any sale price estimates are speculative; the state intends to issue an RFP for a broker and work with the governor’s office and council on evaluation and approval.

Committee members requested that agencies identify the enabling legislation when requests reflect legislative changes. The item was moved and adopted by the committee.

The agency did not provide a firm estimate of sale proceeds or a specific citation to the law change during the session; members asked that the agency follow up with the bill reference and additional financial detail.