Committee tables DJC Adobe Mountain projects pending State Land Department input

The Joint Committee on Capital Review heard presentation and questions about the Department of Juvenile Corrections' proposed capital projects at Adobe Mountain School and elected to table the request after members expressed concern about the site's lease status.

Ethan Scheider (JLBC staff) described DJC's request to spend $1.5 million from the Criminal Justice Enhancement Fund and local cost‑sharing funds on three projects at Adobe Mountain School: a kitchen air‑unit replacement ($641,000), fire line booster pump replacements ($536,000) and door/locking system replacements ($303,000). Art Smith (DJC business and finance administrator) said the facility sits on state trust land and the lease expires in November 2027; he said preliminary conversations with the State Land Department had occurred but no formal renewal date had been set.

Members raised a series of policy questions: whether DJC had contingency plans if the lease is not renewed; how many youth currently occupy the facility (DJC said the census was 160 youth); and whether investing in multi‑phase improvements is wise given the short remaining lease term. One member noted the department's total budget for the site is "just under $45,000,000," while others urged prioritizing the health and safety of current residents regardless of potential relocation.

Given the outstanding question about State Land Department plans and the absence of a contingency plan for relocation, the committee voted to table the item for future discussion so the agencies can provide additional information.