Moore, top aide left without funding for pay

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, June 12, 2001 | 10:40 a.m.

A legislative glitch has left Founding President Richard Moore's position unfunded and will likely leave the Nevada State College at Henderson without a leader by the end of this month, higher education officials say.

Moore's contract expires on June 30, as does that of Orlando Sandoval, his interim vice president of administration. Both were expected to renegotiate their contracts, but the Legislature failed to pass a $1 million appropriation to pay for the college's startup costs, which includes those positions.

"We have taken a large risk with our careers," Moore said of him and Sandoval. "My employment terminates on June 30, and I don't know of any other administrators whose contract winds down as tightly."

The budget for the new state college already has been trimmed to the bone. With $13.4 million for construction and $7 million from the state for second-year operating costs, the college is roughly $6 million under the budget originally sought. The first-year startup costs did not come up for a vote before the Legislature adjourned.

Gov. Kenny Guinn made the final call on Monday, announcing that the $1 million request would not get a second chance before legislators during a special session Thursday. Besides reapportionment, the one-day session will consider 23 bills whose legality is in question, because they were passed between midnight and 1 a.m. June 5.

"The governor has said that those bills that did not make it (before the cut-off time) will not be considered," Jack Finn, the governor's spokesman, said. "He continues to support the concept of the Nevada State College. He thinks it's a good idea, but the law needs to be followed."

The startup money was needed to pay for key administrative people who would help plan the college's curriculum as well as recruit and register students, the state's higher education Vice President of Finance Dan Miles said.

"We've gotten to a point in planning for the school where there needs to be a more aggressive plan for put forward," Miles said. "Without that funding, it seems a remote possibility at this point."

Architects have already been chosen for the college's first building. Classes were scheduled to begin in fall 2002 in temporary spaces on its site off U.S. 95 and Wagon Wheel Drive in south Henderson, but that is up in the air now, according to college officials.

The Board of Regents will decide on Friday how to handle the contract negotiations, Miles said.

Several members have already expressed doubt about renewal of the administrative positions if there isn't any money to back them up.

"If there's no money to pay (Moore), we can't approve his contract," said Regent Tom Kirkpatrick, who has been an outspoken opponent of the state college.

"I don't see how I could approve his contract given that we don't have the money," Regent Linda Howard said. "Besides, I didn't vote to include (the college) in the budget, so I plan to be consistent with my vote."

While Moore and Sandoval have been dogged by controversy because of audits and investigations of their prior administration at the Community College of Southern Nevada, both have supporters on the board.

"Richard Moore has done a lot of very good things," Regent Dorothy Gallagher said. "I think certainly the college is the goal, however, the hurdle is the million in operating money."

Miles said higher education officials may consider pulling the money from a $75 million estate tax account. That fund is quickly dwindling, because system officials are relying more heavily on that money due to budget cuts. In four years the estate tax will be phased out, and the fund will have no new money.

Nevada's chancellor of higher education is expected to brief regents before Thursday's board meeting on their options.