Monterey County delays design work on $172M MHRC campus after supervisors press for more outreach and fiscal review

Monterey County health officials on Oct. 28 presented a status update on Phase 1 of the County Health Services campus — a proposal to build six 16‑bed mental health rehabilitation centers (MHRCs), an emergency support building and campus infrastructure at 1443 Constitution Boulevard in Salinas.

The department said the option most recently developed would deliver 96 secure, 24‑hour residential treatment beds for adults under LPS conservatorship and described the project as a way to return residents now placed out of county to local care. "This project creates local placement options for Monterey County residents and their families," Behavioral Health Bureau Chief Melanie Rose told the board.

Staff told supervisors the project has secured roughly $54.2 million in state grants but that a professional estimate completed as the team moved from program to schematic design raised the total Phase 1 budget to about $172,500,000. Fabricio Chombo, who presented financing scenarios, said the county has identified roughly $54.2 million in secured revenue and faces a remaining funding gap of about $118 million; under assumptions used in…