Capital project is dealt serious blow

Adrienne Packer

Wednesday, April 5, 2000 | 11:05 a.m.

Clark County's capital project transfer funds took a greater hit than anticipated from the expansion of the Clark County Detention Center expected to open next spring.

County Finance Director George Stevens said money transferred from the general fund to capital projects have averaged about $32 million during the last five years. This year, the county will transfer $21 million to its capital projects coffers.

"This is primarily because of the amount of money that has to go into the detention center budget," Stevens said. "This is the third year (the county has dedicated funds to the center) and this is the biggest chunk."

The county has been preparing financially for the opening of the detention center expansion, which is expected to cost $60 million, during the last three years. In the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, the county budgeted $11 million to the center.

Stevens said the money will go toward hiring 225 new positions for the expansion.

The lesser amount in the transfer funds will not affect the $100 million in capital projects the county has planned for the upcoming year. Stevens said money for projects is allocated after they are transferred to the capital funds coffers.

The only event that would cause serious concerns is a major catastrophe, in which case money is taken from capital projects funds.

"We still have $21 million; it would have to be an awful big disaster," Stevens said.

The lower transfer funds will affect the number of positions added throughout the county. Stevens said administrators have created an A-list and a B-list for funding positions. The A-list consists of the detention center positions and requests for 52 additional openings throughout the county.

"It's a little tighter this year, and it will take a couple of years to absorb costs from the detention center," Stevens said.

The general fund revenues have grown by 8.7 percent, which is not as high as past years but still impressive, Stevens said.

In fiscal year 2001, general fund revenues are expected to be $686 million. Projected spending for the next fiscal year is $627.8 million.