Wednesday, Sept. 18, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
The Clark County Commission will be taking bids from brokers competing for a shot at selling $120 million in bonds to expand the county jail, build new juvenile facilities and construct a regional courthouse.
The commission unanimously approved an ordinance Tuesday outlining the details of the public safety bond issue approved by a 2-1 margin by voters in the Sept. 3 primary election. Those details tell prospective bond brokers what criteria to meet to compete for the right to sell the bonds.
The bids will be reviewed by county Finance Director Rosemary Vassiliadis.
Commissioner Erin Kenny, who voted against putting the bond question on the primary ballot, admitted that voters had proved her wrong.
But Kenny wanted to make sure the money will be spent as it was advertised to voters, especially in light of recent revelations about a $13.5 million North Las Vegas municipal bond sold to voters in 1990 to build a new jail and courthouses.
While the money was used to finance construction of the buildings as intended, North Las Vegas converted a building slated for a justice court into offices for its planning department when the county decided not to move into it.
North Las Vegas officials defended the decision as allowed under federal bonding regulations that allow using the money for other public uses if circumstances prevent using the money for its original purpose.
Of the $120 million justice bond, $60 million is targeted for doubling the size of the Clark County Detention Center, $46 million is for improvements at Family and Youth Services, and the remaining $13 million, plus about $5 million in earned interest, will finance design and construction of a regional justice center, Vassiliadis told the commission.
The remainder of the justice center will be financed by a $10 construction fee assessed on misdemeanor charges, as well as other available county revenue.
"When people voted for that, that's the intention that has been given," Kenny said.
Commission Chairwoman Yvonne Atkinson Gates said the board should stick to the breakdown of funds as described to the board and voters. Commissioners Lorraine Hunt and Myrna Williams also supported the original breakdown.
"The board has the discretion to allocate those funds any way the public need is seen," Assistant County Manager Randy Walker said.
Walker said staff will have to come back to the board for a final allocation of the proceeds once a broker has been chosen and the bonds are sold.
The board also unanimously approved the sale of a $97.85 million bond requested by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, backed by the county hotel room tax. The board ratified the LVCVA selection of Lehman Brothers as lowest bidder to manage the bond sale.
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