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Douglas County hires MultiPASS Consulting for TRC operational and financial review at up to $98,900
Summary
The county authorized a not-to-exceed $98,900 contract with MultiPASS Consulting to perform an operational and financial review of the county Treatment & Recovery Center (TRC). The two-phase review includes a February site visit, stakeholder interviews, and a final report due May 2026 to inform 2027 budget discussions; supplemental 2026 funding remains a separate, urgent need.
Douglas County commissioners on Jan. 21 approved a contract authorization to bring an outside consultant to review operations, staffing, data and financial sustainability at the county Treatment & Recovery Center (TRC).
The commission voted 5–0 to authorize the county administrator to execute an agreement with MultiPASS Consulting for the review at a cost not to exceed $98,900.
County staff said the scope includes five review areas: operational review, staffing and leadership, data and KPIs, financial sustainability and system integration (how the TRC fits into the county’s broader crisis-response system). Bob, a county staff member who presented the scope, said the review is intended to provide “focused technical assistance” and outside expertise to address challenges the TRC has encountered after 2½ years of operation.
Dr. Margie Balfour, the consultant who will lead the review, introduced herself to the commission: “I’m Dr. Margie Balfour. I’m a psychiatrist based in Tucson, Arizona, and I’ve been doing emergency and crisis psychiatry for pretty much my whole career,” she said, describing prior work on crisis centers and national guidance. Dr. Balfour outlined a two-phase approach: an initial site visit in February with data review and stakeholder meetings, followed by preliminary observations in March and formal recommendations delivered by May 2026.
Commissioners asked whether the review’s findings would inform the 2027 county budget. Dr. Watkins, who spoke in support of the scope, said the consultation is intended to inform 2027 budget conversations but stressed that the TRC’s 2026 supplemental funding request remains a separate, immediate need to sustain services through 2026: “It is my primary responsibility and duty to ensure that we can make it through 2026 and continue to provide these essential services for the duration of 2026,” she told the board.
Dr. Balfour said she will bring on Dr. Crystal Hernandez, a psychologist with an MBA, as a subcontractor to address complex CCBHC (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic) finance and reimbursement questions.
The commission’s action authorizes execution of the agreement to begin the review. Staff said they will return to the commission if the scope or cost needs to be revised beyond the authorized not-to-exceed amount.
