More prison money grudgingly OK’d

Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2000 | 11:45 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The shifting of $1.2 million to complete the High Desert State Prison near Indian Springs was reluctantly approved Tuesday by the Legislative Interim Finance Committee.

The Public Works Board, responsible for the state's building projects, took a tongue-lashing before the additional money was approved.

Assemblyman Joe Dini, D-Yerington, a member of the committee and also the Assembly's speaker, said, "I'm disappointed this project is not completed."

Dini expressed fear that this will not be the last time the state is asked to transfer money from other accounts to bail out the prison construction.

"We need an accurate count," Dini snapped. "We have an endless pit here."

There was criticism earlier by lawmakers when the Public Works Board eliminated a gymnasium planned for the prison.

Ward Patrick, interim general manager of the Public Works Board, said he has already authorized the contractor to proceed with the work that the $1.2 million would pay for -- even before the finance committee approved it.

Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, chairman of the Finance Committee, told Patrick, "This has got to stop." He was referring to the delays and cost overruns.

Patrick said one reason for the cost overruns is that the prison is on a slope. That meant the guard towers had to be built higher to get a line of sight of the prison. There were higher than expected costs for the cell locks. And the cost for the prison's lethal fence, which will electrocute any inmate who tries to climb it, went from $915,000 to $1.9 million.

At the end of the meeting, Arberry told state Budget Director Perry Comeaux that he wants a new meeting devoted to the problems of cost overruns and the state agencies not keeping legislators apprised of their budget changes.