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Commission approves transfer of ARPA LATCF funds into community endowment to support Washoe Behavioral Health Center operations
Summary
The board approved transferring Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) ARPA dollars—about $9.4M plus interest and a minimum $10.5M principal/interest package—to the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada to create an endowment to underwrite operations and maintenance of the Washoe Behavioral Health Center; $500,000 is set aside for regional initiatives and a potential Renown crisis‑care center payment.
The Board of County Commissioners approved a plan to transfer Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) dollars to the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada to create a Washoe Behavioral Health Endowment intended to cover ongoing operations and maintenance costs for the Washoe Behavioral Health Center.
County staff explained that the LATCF funds originated from American Rescue Plan Act allocations accepted by the county in October 2022. The county proposes moving roughly $9.4 million of principal plus about $600,000 in interest (totaling a minimum of about $10.0–10.5 million depending on final accounting) into a donor‑advised endowment that will remain invested by the Community Foundation with a 0.75% fee for investment advisory and custodial services. The county expects annual distributions from the endowment (the county previewed an estimated annual operating contribution of about $450,000) to support lights‑on operations and routine maintenance at the behavioral-health facility so those costs do not fall to the general fund.
Staff and the Community Foundation noted that $500,000 of the total would be set aside in the near term for regional behavioral-health initiatives and could be used for a potential payment to Renown Health to support the crisis‑care center start‑up once the state’s $2,000,000 contribution is exhausted and a written agreement is executed. County finance staff explained mechanics, including investment time horizon differences between county cash management and long‑term endowment investing and the intent to remain a partner in governance and reporting.
Board members said the plan is a creative, public‑private approach to keep the behavioral‑health facility operational without adding an ongoing general‑fund burden. Commissioners asked about the timeline for construction/operation and were told renovation demolition is underway, a GMP decision is expected in the coming months, and the facility could open in 2027 if construction and procurement proceed as planned. The motion to transfer funds and create the endowment passed unanimously.
