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County manager flags $7 million shortfall in interim operations estimate for planned behavioral-health center
Summary
County manager reported the SP3 behavioral-health application is in process and said interim operating costs for the planned crisis center were recently estimated at $7 million (previously thought to be about $2 million); commissioners requested clarification and scheduled further review.
The Roosevelt County manager informed commissioners that work on a regional SP3 behavioral-health application is underway (Curry County is leading the application) and that the county must decide whether to sign on and how to manage interim operating costs.
"We thought initially that that amount was going to be about $2 million and we found out about a week and a half ago. Now they're saying seven," the county manager said, describing a change to the estimate for interim operations for the crisis center. She said a company had been identified to operate the facility when it opens but that questions remain about an apparent $7 million shortfall for interim operations prior to licensing and insurance reimbursements.
Commissioners discussed funding alternatives: the manager said Clovis had been seeking Workforce Connections contributions to cover some salaries and that the group is exploring legislative emergency funding as a stopgap, even though that route could delay opening by several months. The manager emphasized the application must be submitted by the end of the month to access certain early-access funds and that application rules require funds be distributed according to identified priorities, which limits concentration of the SP3 request on a single line item.
Commissioners requested a detailed budget review from Curry/Clovis and scheduled a special meeting (proposed June 23) to review the SP3 application and decide whether Roosevelt County should approve participation. Several commissioners expressed surprise at the $7 million estimate and asked for a breakdown and justification of that figure before committing county funding or approving the application.
No formal county action was recorded on approval of the application; the matter was set for further review and clarification from partner counties and the project fiscal agent.
Proposed next steps include circulation of the Clovis presentation materials ahead of the June 23 special meeting and a line-by-line review of the $7 million figure.
