Construction program approved

Tuesday, June 3, 2003 | 9:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A $218.5 million state building program, with the biggest projects in Southern Nevada, cleared the Legislature Monday.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the state will issue $150.1 million in general obligation bonds to pay for the projects; $16.7 million will come from the highway fund; $25.7 million will be received in donations and there will be federal money available over the next two years.

To have enough money to pay off the bonds, the state will have to raise its share of the ad valorem property tax from 15 cents to 16 cents.

The largest project is the $60.3 million Science, Engineering and Technology Complex at UNLV. The state allocated nearly $9 million two years ago for design and infrastructure work.

The state will put up $35 million this time and UNLV has agreed to provide $25 million from donations and other school sources.

Senate Bill 507 provides $32.2 million for a 150-bed psychiatric hospital on the Southern Nevada Mental Health Campus in Las Vegas. This was Gov. Kenny Guinn's top priority. When completed it will have 120 acute care beds and 30 beds for observation beds for people who are in for a short time.

The bill also includes $20.2 million for a health science building at the West Charleston Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada and $9.6 million for a new building for the State Department of Motor Vehicles in North Las Vegas.

Raggio said the motor vehicle department is now leasing its building that that will expire in December 2005.

The bill approves a $3.1 million pilot project to allow the state to enter into a lease-purchase with a private builder for a headquarters for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Carson City.

The plan calls for a contractor to construct a 120,000-square-foot building on state land and then lease it to the state for 20 years. After that period the state would own the property.

There is $571,175 for advance planning of a State Emergency Operating Center in Carson City. Raggio said the state is due to receive $4 million from a national settlement. That money would be used to match federal funds for the $8 million project.

The bill includes $750,000 for renovation of the former Mesquite High School for the Community College of Southern Nevada.

The bill passed the Senate 19-2 and then the Assembly 29-13. It goes to the governor.