Buckley hopes Guinn includes funds for assisted-living project

Friday, Jan. 19, 2001 | 11:09 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn is keeping a tight lid on what's in his $3.74 billion budget, but Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, is hoping he includes $6 million for building an affordable senior citizen housing project in Clark County.

Buckley briefed the governor in a Thursday letter on developments to start a model demonstration project for assisted living for the elderly. She said Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., was working to acquire free federal land for the project.

"BLM land was used once successfully in another affordable housing project -- the Jaycee Mobile Home Park -- with which you were so instrumental," she said in her letter. And she added, "I am hoping that you have included the appropriation in your budget."

If not, she said she will introduce a bill asking for the money.

She said she and the governor have talked about the project, which would provide a place for senior citizens who can't make it in their own home but are not ready for a full-scale nursing home.

There are "many nice" private retirement projects in Southern Nevada, she said. But the cost is $2,000 to $3,000 a month. Seniors who are living on $900 in Social Security can't afford that.

She envisions a nonprofit operation with seniors paying on a sliding scale based on their income. And since the building would be paid for, the rents could be lower.

The assisted living program would be the first of a trio of projects. There would be housing for independent living for both spouses. It's hard to force spouses to live apart after many years of marriage, Buckley said. And the third would be nursing home care.

Guinn said Wednesday he is putting a moratorium on his comments about the budget until the details are released during his "State of the State" address Monday evening.