UNLV science building size cut

Friday, May 2, 2003 | 10:58 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- UNLVs' $75 million Science, Engineering and Technology Building will be smaller than originally planned, but the cost won't be reduced, a Senate-Assembly budget committee was told today.

Instead of a 230,000-square-foot building at the north end of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, campus, the building will be 190,000 square feet, state Public Works General Manager Dan O'Brien said.

The 2001 Legislature authorized $8.8 million for advance planning and infrastructure. Now UNLV is asking approval for the $60.3 million construction project.

O'Brien said the start date will be in January 2005 and completion is set for June 2007.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, questioned whether UNLV would meet its commitment to contribute $25 million for the project.

UNLV President Carol Harter told the committee that the school wants to issue $25 million in revenue bonds. She said the bonds would be paid off partly from a lease of UNLV property to the Environmental Protection Agency that will yield $1 million a year in rent.

She said she has raised $1.5 million of the $10 million remaining. And if the private donations come up short, she said some capital construction fees imposed on the campus will be used to meet the rest of the commitment.

The subcommittee also heard testimony about the proposed $20.3 million health sciences building at the West Charleston Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Raggio complained there has been a "bait and switch situation" on this building. Originally, the Legislature was told that $5 million in private donations would be raised to help pay the cost.

He said that was lowered to $1 million and now it is down to $500,000.

CCSN President Ron Remington told the committee the $500,000 was realistic. Remington was not president when the $5 million and $1 million pledges were made.

Both projects are in the construction budget of Gov. Kenny Guinn. The subcommittee did not take any action on the projects.