Guinn adds college funds

Monday, Jan. 15, 2001 | 11:36 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn confirmed today he has included "some money" in his budget to start construction of the Nevada State College at Henderson.

However, the governor declined to say how much money for the school will be in his capital improvement budget to be unveiled Jan. 22 in his State of the State message.

Last month, Guinn said he had not put any funds for the Henderson school in his $3.74 billion budget. He said he had not, at that time, seen any analysis on the school's feasibility.

But an advisory committee earlier this month released its study that said the state college would cost less to educate a student than at UNLV and there was a need for the school because of the growing population in Southern Nevada.

The committee suggested the school start with a $19.6 million building for 30 classrooms and 90 faculty offices, conference rooms and a small number of science labs.

Guinn made a "number of changes" in the proposed state construction budget for the coming two years. The recommendation from the state Public Works Board did not include Henderson on its priority list.

Assembly Majority Leader Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, said the disclosure by Guinn was "good news." It's easier to push for a project when it is included in the executive budget, rather than having to start from scratch, he said.

The governor is not specifically allocating any money in the proposed operating budget of the University and Community College System of Nevada for Henderson. He said it's up to the regents to set the priorities when they receive the operating budget that must be approved by the Legislature.

The regents asked for $3 million in one-shot funding for next fiscal year for operations and $5.4 million in state operating money for fiscal year 2002-03. If approved, the first classes would begin in fall 2002.

The regents requested $26 million in state funds to construct a classroom-student services building. Added to that amount would be $10 million in private donations. The regents also seek $27.5 million, of which $10 million would come from private sources, for a library.

The allocation of construction money by Guinn is a shot in the arm for the proposed four-year college.

Guinn also said he is funding the newly revised budget for the university system, which means more money will be going to the fast growing colleges in Southern Nevada. A legislative committee devised a new allocation of money after complaints that UNLV and the Community College of Southern Nevada were shortchanged.

Guinn is including $85 million, or a 7 percent increase, to handle the expected increase in enrollment in the system. But he made it clear that the regents will be the ones deciding how the money is spent.

Guinn said previously he will ask the regents to come up with money from their budget to match state money for pay increases for faculty.

"We hand them a lump sum, and they allocate it," he said.

The governor's priorities are education and health and pay raises for state workers, he said. The present two-year budget gives about 55 percent of the money to education -- from kindergarten through university levels. He said he hopes to raise that percentage.

The governor said people will be surprised at the changes made in the two-year spending program to be outlined a week from today. Mental health officials say they are pleased with the way Guinn is putting money in their programs, but they declined to be specific.

The 1999 Legislature allocated $500,000 for a feasibility study of starting the college in Henderson. Part of that money has already been spent for a skeleton staff including $175,000 for the salary of founding President Richard Moore.

If funded, it is estimated that 1,000 students would enroll in Henderson the first year. Estimated cost to educate a student at the State College at Henderson would be $7,051 compared to $10,839 at UNLV in fiscal year 2007.