Henderson college closure on the budget-cuts table

Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2003 | 9:27 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Sen. Barbara Cegavske, R-Las Vegas, said today elimination of Nevada State College in Henderson is one of the items being considered as the Legislature tries to balance the budget.

"It's one of many budgets we are looking at," said Cegavske, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which drafts the biennial budget. "Can we combine it -- can we put it into existing programs?" she asked.

"We're looking at ways to save money and that is one of them that is under the microscope," said Cegavske.

But she added, "It's not a hill to die for."

Gov. Kenny Guinn has recommended spending $3.7 million next fiscal year and $3.8 million the following fiscal year for the fledgling school.

Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, one of the biggest supporters of the school, has said it would cost money to close the state college. He said the professors' contracts would have to be honored, and students would have to be transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Community College of Southern Nevada.

A prime focus of the school has been to turn out nurses and schoolteachers, both in short supply in Nevada.

Cegavske said she has been impressed with the nursing program at the community college, but she said there is no waiting list at UNLV or the University of Nevada, Reno, to train to become teachers.

"That's unfortunate because we have not done a good job to encourage people to go into that field," she said.

Cegavske said other things being considered are the elimination of the state printing office and the motor pool, both of which could be replaced by private industry.

"It's important to look at everything and decide what are our priorities in this state," she said.

"Everything of the budget is up," she said referring to possible cuts in Guinn's proposed $4.8 billion spending program.