College building plans too optimistic for state funding

Monday, June 26, 2000 | 9:31 a.m.

ELKO -- The Board of Regents has an appetite bigger than the state construction money available.

Outgoing Interim Chancellor Tom Anderes expects $120 million to $130 million in state money to be available for projects in the University and Community College System, but the regents are requesting $216.4 million.

The regents, at their Friday meeting in Elko, recommended a $307.8 million building program for the next two years, with $86.4 million coming from private and other sources. The construction program was whittled down from a "wish list" of between $700 million and $800 million.

Regent Dorothy Gallagher said the university should shoot for a $120 million request from the 2001 Legislature.

The meeting also heightened the rift over creation of the proposed Nevada State College in Henderson.

Regent Steve Sisolak noted that backers of the Henderson college said they would raise private money for the start-up costs. But he said the proposed budget shows more than $40 million of the first $160 million in state construction money requested going to Henderson.

Only $20 million in private money is being raised for Henderson, he said.

He and Regent Howard Rosenberg of Reno expressed concern that existing schools would be hurt by construction of the Henderson campus.

"How can we say this is not going to take a bite out of the other campuses?" Sisolak said.

Anderes said the system has to look toward the future, when Henderson will have 8,000 to 10,000 students.

Richard Moore, president of the college, said the property that has been secured is estimated to be worth $40 million and construction documents are being drawn up.

Regent Tom Kirkpatrick of Las Vegas also objected to the construction of a student center at Henderson being placed higher on the priority list than expanding the student services building at UNLV.

The construction list includes $36 million for classrooms and a student services building for Henderson, of which $10 million would come from private sources. It is No. 8 on the priority list.

The expansion for UNLV student service facilities is 11th on the priority list and could cost $6.5 million.

Kirkpatrick said it's important to take care of the 20,000 students at UNLV rather than build something at Henderson, which doesn't have any students yet.

Moore said there will be no space for registration and other activities for students and that the project would be combined with the first classroom building.

"These two units work together," he said.

But Kirkpatrick said it is "criminal" that UNLV has to wait while Henderson takes a higher priority.

If the university system receives only $130 million in state funds, that could eliminate the UNLV student services project.

Other Southern Nevada projects that may have to be shelved if the $130 million restriction holds firm are a $27.5 million library for the state college in Henderson; a $19 million telecommunications building at the Community College of Southern Nevada; the $36 million dental school at UNLV; $1 million for planning a UNLV campus at Summerlin; and $5 million for an education center at Mesquite.

The priority list that could be funded under the $130 million program would include the classroom-student services at Henderson; $9 million for planning and engineering a $75 million UNLV Science and Engineering building; a $25 million health science and biotech center at CCSN; and $23 million for rehabilitation and expansion at Wright Hall at UNLV.

The board also approved hiring retiring University of Nevada, Reno, President Joseph Crowley as lobbyist for the system for the 2001 Legislature. Crowley plans to return to teaching at Reno, but before returning to the classroom will represent the university before lawmakers.

Crowley's present salary of $202,269 will be reduced to $150,000 in the year after he retires as president, then to $115,000 in the second year.