College not included on state projects list

Monday, Sept. 25, 2000 | 11:32 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The Nevada State College in Henderson is not on a preliminary list of priority state projects being considered today by a state board that will make a recommendation to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The staff of the Nevada Public Works Board is recommending a state construction program of $246.4 million for the next two years, but buildings for the proposed state college are not included.

The recommendations are being presented to the board today in Carson City, and the board is scheduled to decide on a priority list to present to Guinn.

The staff report suggests $81.8 million be set aside for major projects at the University and Community College System of Nevada. The university regents had presented a $309.8 million building program, composed of 20 projects.

The board staff is recommending the top six regents' priorities be financed in the next two years. They include $11 million for finishing jobs already started at four campuses, including the Community College of Southern Nevada; $9 million for the planning of a science-engineering complex at UNLV; $25 million for a health-biotech building for the Community College of Southern Nevada; and $23 million for expansion and improvements at Wright Hall at UNLV.

The other two on the list are an $11.5 million student services center at the Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, which was delayed two years ago; and expansion of the classrooms at the community college in Fallon for $5.9 million.

Just missing the cut was the seventh regents' priority, a $66 million new library for the University of Nevada, Reno. The eighth priority of the board of regents was a $36 million classroom and student services building at Henderson. That called for the state to supply $26 million and for $10 million to come from outside sources.

The public works board could switch around the priorities of the staff. Guinn will also make his own list in his budget. The Legislature will have the final say on what projects get financed.

The Henderson college has the strong backing of Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.

The biggest single project in the $246.6 million recommendation is for the $53 million third phase of the High Desert State Prison in Clark County, which is due to open in March 2004. Also suggested is $3.8 million for reopening the Southern Nevada Correctional Center at Jean, which would come on board in May 2004.

The public works staff is suggesting a $33 million state office building in Carson City. Guinn has been advocating that the state reduce the amount of space it leases from private business to save money. In addition, the staff is suggesting $5.1 million be spent to rehabilitate a building in Stewart south of Carson City that was used by the Community College of Western Nevada. That would be converted to office space for state agencies.

There is a recommended $22 million for maintenance on such things as roofing, complying with the American Disabilities Act, fire sprinklers and asbestos removal.

Included in the total is $16.5 million in bonds to help preserve Lake Tahoe and $11.6 million for smaller projects such as relocating the state motor pool in Las Vegas from the airport to near UNLV at a cost of $2.9 million.