LV may get more funds for security

Suzanne Struglinski

Wednesday, July 23, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- A possible Senate vote later today could create a new $20 million federal grant program that could bring additional Homeland Security dollars to cities with high tourism rates.

An amendment to the Homeland Security spending bill, introduced Tuesday by Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., could be included today if the Senate completes the bill.

"We have hundreds of thousands of people who visit Nevada and make our state home for a weekend," Reid said. "The tourist population in Las Vegas on any given day matches the population of many cities around the country. This puts added responsibility on our emergency responders and calls for additional resources."

Reid noted that Las Vegas has more than 250,000 people staying in hotels each day, more than the populations of Savannah, Ga., or Tallahassee, Fla.

The Homeland Security Department would set criteria for cities to qualify for the money. The amendment would not take funding away from other Homeland Security programs, Reid's office said.

Sheriff Bill Young said he was briefed on the amendment Tuesday and fully supports it.

"I've said all along that Las Vegas and tourist destinations are a little different than other cities, and this money can help address some of the unique concerns we face," Young said.

Should the funding get approved, Jerry Bussell, special adviser to Gov. Kenny Guinn on homeland security, said it could bring some relief from the current funding formula that relies solely on population.

"The population of a place is not just the residents, it's who's there," Bussell said.

Nevada received about $25 million so far in federal homeland security funds, Bussell said.