Perkins seeks university audit

Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- The University and Community College System of Nevada has a budget of more than $1 billion for the current two-year period -- and Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins wants to know if taxpayer dollars are being wasted.

Perkins, D-Henderson, has asked that a bill be drafted for the 2003 Legislature to authorize an audit of the system.

Perkins also has requested a second bill to determine if the system "is in tune with the needs of the state."

There has not been an audit of the system since 1996.

One of the goals of the audit would be to determine if there are outdated programs in the university system, Perkins said.

Board of Regents Chairman Doug Seastrand said he would welcome an audit.

"I see this as (the Legislature) trying to help us," Seastrand said. He said he is not aware of any outdated programs in the system, and said that he has established a task force to study how technology can be better used in the state's colleges and universities.

In 2001, the Legislature authorized slightly more than $1 billion in spending for the system for this current two-year period. Of that total, more than $700 million comes from the state's general fund. Part of that money was returned to the state in mandatory budget cuts.

Perkins wants the audit to examine a wide range of areas, including the costs of construction projects, athletic programs, administration, travel, the reliability of enrollment figures and investment policies.

As an example, Perkins referred to a complaint that contracts awarded at the University of Nevada, Reno were not given to the lowest bidder.

"We need to look at every program and if that is the best way to spend tax dollars," Perkins said. "Folks in higher education are pretty protective and in some cases they should be."

Some programs in the system date back 100 years, Perkins said, and a fresh examination is needed to see if they are still viable. Perkins said any impact the audit would have on the Nevada State College at Henderson is undetermined.