Collin County officials on Tuesday told the commissioners court that multiple campus construction projects are under way or in design, with combined schedules stretching across the next two years and several contracts and change orders increasing project costs.

The presentation, given by Mr. Katheria, a county project staff member, covered new‑construction work funded by 2007 bond funds, 2023 bond funds and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations. "This presentation does not include any permanent improvement projects. So it'll be just the new construction," Katheria said.

County staff outlined the status of several major projects: a phase‑1 building addition reported as substantially complete this week with a final completion target before the end of the month; a medical‑mental‑health facility about 26% complete and projected for substantial completion in June 2026; a modular central utility plant now 65% complete with substantial completion pushed to October 28, 2026 because of state specialty reviews; and a health care building, medical examiner facility and a 447‑space parking garage on a May 2026 schedule subject to weather delays and change orders. Katheria provided square‑footage and cost figures for individual projects and said many schedules remain under active change‑order review.

Why it matters: ARPA money is underwriting several of the county's health care and mental‑health facilities. Commissioners and staff repeatedly returned to the federal spending deadline — and the county's plan to complete work early enough to process invoices and close out grants.

Katheria said staff are targeting internal final‑completion workflows to allow ARPA invoices to be processed before the federal deadline. "The strict deadline is end of 2026," he said, and added the county is targeting substantial completion and internal closeout well before that date to allow administrative processing. Presiding Judge Kim noted the county received about $201,000,000 in ARPA funds and emphasized the county must meet federal timing requirements to keep the awards.

Project and budget details included in the presentation (figures provided by staff):
- Phase‑1 addition: constructed area listed as 97,189 square feet; initial construction cost shown as $30,826,000 and construction total with change orders listed as $39,491,879; certificate of occupancy was recorded Oct. 10 (year not specified in the presentation). Katheria said the county expects final completion by the end of the month, with a few remaining punch‑list items to finish.
- Medical‑mental‑health building (phase 2): listed at 213,142 square feet; initial construction cost shown as $105,432,000 and, with change orders, about $106,493,207; project reported 26% complete with an anticipated substantial completion in June 2026 (originally April 30, 2026), accounting for 4–8 days of weather‑related delays tracked to date.
- Modular central utility plant (Modular 1): initial construction cost listed as $25,480,000; with change orders reported at $32,060,000; substantial completion moved from December (prior year) to Oct. 28, 2026 because of specialty reviews and inspections.
- Health care / medical examiner / parking garage: combined construction costs shown at about $61.8 million initially and $62.2 million with included change orders; parking garage planned for 447 spaces; design professional fees and permitting milestones were listed by staff.

Commissioners pressed staff on schedule risks, staging and parking. One commissioner said the office addition and courtroom expansion entail roughly 80,000 square feet of new office plus 20,000 square feet of shell renovation; staff said parking availability and staging space on campus mean some work must be sequenced, which lengthens the schedule and could raise costs. Staff responded they will examine whether adding internal project‑management resources or hiring a construction manager at risk early in design would reduce inflationary cost exposure.

On ARPA timing, Katheria said county administrative processes require a buffer month for invoice processing and closeout; staff therefore are targeting substantial completion in October or early November 2026 for ARPA projects even where construction substantial‑completion dates are currently shown later. Judge Kim affirmed the county's goal of opening all ARPA projects before Dec. 31, 2026.

The presentation also reviewed responses to the courthouse expansion request for qualifications, work on a juvenile probation office renovation (bid documents advertised), an animal shelter design solicitation and a kitchen renovation estimated at roughly $11.5 million and scheduled for a 2027 completion window.

The court did not take formal action on the construction presentation. Commissioners thanked the project team and asked staff to return with further updates and any cost‑justification analyses for adding project staff or accelerating schedules.