Cost Factors and Challenges
Multiple factors have contributed to the higher costs. Inflation has played a significant role, making construction and materials more expensive. Additionally, when lawmakers vetted the project in 2022, they anticipated making $50 million from the sale of the land at the aging Griffin Memorial Hospital in Norman. However, due to soft demand and possible building remediation costs, this amount has now dropped to $10 million.
Former leaders at the agency failed to include costs for furniture, fixtures, and equipment in the initial project estimates presented to the Legislature. This oversight has added to the financial burden. Mental Health Commissioner Allie Friesen took over in January and is now dealing with these issues.
Design Changes and Certification Concerns
The original design had bathrooms in hallways, which raised concerns about patient safety and certification. The new leaders at the agency worried that the facility might not be able to obtain certification if bathrooms were not in patient rooms. This led to the need for a redesign and additional costs.
As a result, the bed count at the Donahue Center may be slightly reduced to accommodate the need for bathrooms in patient rooms. This is an important consideration as the center was expected to have beds to treat 275 adults and 55 adolescents.
Budget and Legislative Process
Agencies had to submit their budget requests by Oct. 1, and the Donahue project's updated information has been submitted to legislators. Discussions about the shortfall are ongoing, and the Legislature committed $87 million in federal pandemic relief funds in 2022. The rest of the funding was to come from the sale of the Griffin land.
Speaker-Elect Kyle Hilbert stated that increasing mental health capacity in the state is a priority, and they are working to find ways to meet the needs within the constraints of the available funding. Hall expects the Department of Mental Health to continue using Griffin in Norman while waiting for the Donahue Center to open. Private treatment beds on a temporary, contract basis may also be needed.
However, Hall emphasized that he cannot make a decision to fill the funding gap without going through the legislative process. This highlights the importance of collaboration between the legislative and executive branches to address the challenges and ensure the successful completion of the behavioral health center.
Paul Monies has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2017 and covers state agencies and public health. Contact him at (571) 319-3289 or pmonies@oklahomawatch.org. Follow him on Twitter @pmonies.Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.