Estimate for state college reduced

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, April 17, 2001 | 11:39 a.m.

The price tag for the proposed Nevada State College at Henderson has been reduced by about $2.6 million, but the state won't get the benefit of that, according to a revised budget released today to state Senate and Assembly members.

The reduction from $26 million to $23.4 million, comes from a switch in land sites for the proposed state college. Because utility land improvements have been made to the new site on Car Country Drive and U.S. 93, the original estimate for that work has been reduced, Richard Moore, president of the proposed state college, said.

"What will be the obligation of the state now?" asked Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

The adjustment, Moore said, "does not change the status of the state's obligation."

Raggio pointed out that the governor's original recommendation for the project was for the state to pay $16 million, with the $10 million balance coming from private funds to be raised by Moore.

Instead of crediting the state with $2.6 million, Moore said, he will now only have to raise $7.4 million.

"I guess the question is whether that's a valid part of the original agreement," Raggio said. "I think the committee is looking for an actual $10 million contribution."

Assemblyman Joe Dini Jr., D-Yerington, questioned the motivation behind Moore's adjustment of fund-raising goals.

"I would think that he can't raise $10 million, and that's why he cut the price down," Dini said.

Dini said he would like to see the project go through, but the subcommittee still needs to see state college officials come back with "decent figures."

Site changes, fund-raising questions and the state's shrinking budget have become new hurdles for project backers, like Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.

Revenue shortfalls have been predicted for the state because of lower- than-expected gaming revenues.

An informal poll of the Senate Finance Committee had three members against the project and four, including Raggio, who have not committed either way.

"There isn't going to be the money for the state college," said Sen. Bill O'Donnell, R-Las Vegas, a committee member. "Once you determine you are going to do this, you start a sort of ratchet effect. It can only be turned one way."

Support for the project on the Assembly Ways and Means committee is expected to be somewhat more positive.

Perkins has argued that the college will save the state $2.5 million a year, because it will be less expensive to educate students at a state college than at UNLV.

"We can't not afford it," Perkins said Monday. "The only large figure is the capital money, and that is $1 million."