Building projects curtailed

Friday, Sept. 4, 1998 | 11:26 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- In a preview of emerging hard times, the state Public Works Board has adopted a pared-down construction budget for the next two years with the universities and community colleges suffering the biggest cuts.

The board Thursday agreed to a $148 million building program, to be financed by state funds to be submitted to the incoming governor.

Richard Jarvis, chancellor of the University and Community College System of Nevada, said he was disappointed at the loss of some major projects and he will be appealing to the governor to reinstate some of the building money.

State agencies had asked for $635 million and the staff of the public works board reduced that to $181 million. But board chairman Perry Comeaux, who is the state budget director, said it should be slashed to $150 million because there won't be much cash available and the state won't be able to issue a lot of bonds before it reaches the debt limit.

Tax revenues have been coming in slower than predicted and financial experts don't expect any quick turnaround.

The biggest single project approved was a $53 million 1,000 bed addition to the prison at the Southern Desert Correctional Center in Clark County. This would be the second phase of a new prison complex. The board is going to solicit bids this fall for the first phase of the project, expected to cost $82 million.

The university system suggested the state finance $105.2 million in new buildings which included 16 projects. The staff of the public works board reduced that to $93.7 million.

The board, at the suggestion of Comeaux, sliced it another $30 million, leaving seven of the original 16 projects intact. It agreed to eliminate the addition to the student services building at UNLV; high technology centers at high school campuses in Pahrump and Las Vegas that are used jointly by high school and community college students and a Southern Nevada Science Center at the Desert Research Institute in Las Vegas.

"That's a lot to lose," Jarvis said when informed of the board's action. "We had high hopes for the student services." He said the elimination of the two high tech centers was "very disappointing."

Surviving the ax were $7.5 million for new furnishings at the Lied Library at UNLV and $12.9 million for renovation of the old library into a law school. The board also recommended $17 million for a new science building at the Charleston campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

The board agreed to submit a second list of the projects that were eliminated so that if additional money is realized, this construction could be considered. "That's encouraging," Jarvis said. "I'm glad they are going with an alternate list." And he said he was happy the board agreed to fund the top priorities of the system in their order.

Major projects approved for Southern Nevada include $1.6 million for a Mormon Fort Visitor Center at the state park in Las Vegas and a $3.8 million crisis center for the mental health division in Las Vegas to handle emergency cases.

The board recommended a $12.7 million new office building in Las Vegas for the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation to replace the building on 8th Street. The money for that will come from fines and from the federal government. Also approved was a $12 million new headquarters for the Nevada Highway Patrol in Las Vegas. That money would not come from state tax revenues but from highway funds.

Comeaux said the priorities of the board must be money to maintain its present buildings and infrastructure and then to finance additional prison beds to take care the influx of inmates.

He didn't show any favoritism. At his recommendation the board eliminated a recommended $806,320 to fix the air conditioning and heating system in the Blasdel Building in Carson City where he has his offices. He said a new chiller had been installed there recently which have solved some but not all of the air ventilation problems.

The board approved $594,475 to fix air and soil problems in state buildings and grounds. Eric Raecke, manager of the Public Works Board said the state has encountered a "sick building syndrome," particularly in Las Vegas. Employees complain about the air quality in the new Grant Sawyer office building and the new Desert Research Institute in Clark County.

Raecke said the problem occurs as the buildings are sealed up to conserve energy.

After the meeting Comeaux said operational budget requests from state agencies will be also sliced. He did not have a total of what they have requested but said they are probably 50 to 100 percent more than the available money.