High court gets funding for space in LV center

Thursday, May 7, 1998 | 10:05 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada Supreme Court has received an emergency appropriation of $260,000 toward planning its new headquarters in the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas.

The money will be used by Clark County planners to add a floor on the center to house the Supreme Court.

However, the Legislative Interim Finance Committee, which allocated the funding, made it clear this is not a commitment by the state to become a tenant in the $119.5 million justice center when it is built. The committee stressed it would be up to the 1999 Legislature to decide if it wants to rent space, estimated to cost $1.80 a square foot, for the high court.

Assemblywoman Kathy Von Tobel, R-Las Vegas, expressed concern that the state would have to put up more money if there were cost overruns on the project. But Clark County District Judge Nancy Becker said the up-front money sought by the county will not increase.

"There aren't going to be cost overruns," she said. "Our experience is the family court came in under budget."

It's a question, Becker said, of how much space the county can get for the amount of money authorized for the Supreme Court. She said the district attorney's office, which will be located initially in the justice center, may have to move out sooner than anticipated as the Southern Nevada courts expand.

The Supreme Court originally asked for $410,000 in emergency funds from the finance committee but it trimmed its request to $260,000.

Court Administrator Barbara Kavanau told the committee the court has savings of $150,000 from its "fast-track" criminal case program that could be added to the $260,000 -- or deducted from its original request of $410,000.

"This is an alternative we should explore," Kavanau said referring to the possible location and expansion of court facilities in Las Vegas. She added the justice center offers a competitive price at an excellent location.

She said the court has not yet determined how much space it will need in Las Vegas but earlier estimates have come in at 25,000 square feet. One reason for the needed space is that the high court, once it is expanded to seven members in January, intends to hold panel hearings more often in Las Vegas.