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HHS seeks to buy Sandy DCFS building, requests Washington County OME and USDC therapeutic facility funding
Summary
Health and Human Services and DCFS asked the subcommittee to fund purchase of a Sandy building (negotiated price ~$11.5M) to save an estimated $940K annually versus leasing, requested a Washington County medical examiner facility (~$46.88M) to reduce transport delays and costs, and proposed a therapeutic assessment facility at USDC (~$42.055M).
Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS) presented three capital priorities on Jan. 27: purchase of the Sandy DCFS facility, a new Washington County Office of the Medical Examiner (OME) facility, and a therapeutic assessment facility at the Utah State Developmental Center (USDC).
DCFS and HHS said the Sandy building is purpose‑built for DCFS service delivery, consolidated three DCFS locations in 2014 and includes visitation and training rooms designed for child welfare work. Agency presenters said the owner proposed selling the property and DFCM appraisal work identified a negotiated purchase price of about $11.5 million; the agencies estimate ongoing general fund savings of about $940,000 compared with continuing to lease the facility.
HHS presented a Washington County OME proposal with a building budget estimate of about $46.88 million and an ongoing operations estimate of about $6.61 million. HHS said geographic distance and transport times from Southern Utah drive high forensic transport and investigative costs (Washington County accounts for a disproportionate share of body‑transport costs statewide) and that a regional facility would improve response times, reduce transport costs (annual body transport estimated at about $350,000), and support co‑location with public‑health laboratory functions.
Separately, USDC Superintendent Tim Matthews described a proposed therapeutic assessment facility to address complex behavioral health needs for people in the state training school system; the USDC estimate is about $42.055 million with O&M of about $282,009. USDC officials said a modern safety‑first design would reduce staff and resident injuries and expand services for people who require stabilization before returning to community settings.
Agency representatives said purchase and construction timing matter because project costs are rising and local service gaps have operational impacts; they committed to provide additional detail and to coordinate with DFCM on acquisition and programming.
