Washoe County Commissioners have approved a major funding step to keep the Washoe Children’s Behavioral Health Center moving forward, voting unanimously to authorize a $17 million budget augmentation tied to the project’s construction timeline.
The funding acts as a “bridge gap” tool, allowing the county to essentially borrow against anticipated future funding sources to cover immediate costs. County officials say the approach helps avoid delays as the project moves through key phases.
In a separate but related vote, commissioners approved a Guaranteed Maximum Price construction agreement with Plenium Builders, Inc., not to exceed $20.3 million. The board also authorized about $5.3 million in additional county funding to support delivery of the project, including furniture, fixtures and equipment, security systems, and other essential components.
The Washoe Children’s Behavioral Health Center will be housed in a renovated 47,000-square-foot building and is designed to provide a wide range of services focused on children and adolescents. Planned services include psychiatric residential treatment, crisis stabilization, outpatient care, and specialized staff training to support victims of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE). The facility will also include dedicated workforce training spaces to support long-term staffing needs.
During the meeting, residents were invited to view architectural renderings of the new center, offering a glimpse of both the interior spaces and exterior design ahead of construction.