$218 million OK’d for state projects

Tuesday, May 27, 2003 | 9:56 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A state construction program of more than $218 million, including a new psychiatric hospital in Las Vegas and UNLV's Science, Engineering and Technology complex, has been approved by leaders of the Senate and Assembly budget committees.

The projects, to be started over the next two years, will be financed by more than $145 million in bonds and $72.3 million in other funds such as federal money, student fees and donations.

The committees agreed Monday with Gov. Kenny Guinn to build a $32.2 million, 150-bed psychiatric hospital at the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Center. While this project is under construction, the current facility will be expanded from 88 to 103 beds to care for the growing population of mental health patients in Southern Nevada.

The top priority for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas -- the $75 million science, engineering and technology building -- was approved. The 2001 Legislature had authorized $8.8 million for design and infrastructure work for the project. The committees followed up on that with Monday's authorization of $35 million in bonds and $25 million in other funds such as donations and school funds to go forward.

The 2005 Legislature will be asked for the money for furniture and equipment.

The committees on Monday also authorized construction of a $19.8 million health sciences building on the West Charleston Campus of the Community College of Southern Nevada. They approved $4 million for furnishing and equipment for the telecommunications building at the Cheyenne campus of CCSN.

Highway funds totaling $9.4 million will be spent on a new field services office for the state Department of Motor Vehicles in North Las Vegas.

And, although not recommended by Guinn, the committee agreed to spend $750,000 to renovate a former high school in Mesquite for use by CCSN. It also voted to authorize $1.7 million for study and design of a heart transplant facility and construction of an embalming center and lab at the school of medicine in Las Vegas.

Among the maintenance projects to be undertaken during the next two years is repair of the exterior tile at the Sawyer State Office Building in Las Vegas. The tiles have been falling off, creating a safety hazard. The project is expected to cost $316,346.

In addition, $45,904 is earmarked for repair of the sidewalks in front of the Sawyer State Office building.

The committees agreed to spend $3.1 million on a pilot lease-purchase program for a building for the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Carson City.

A construction firm would be hired to build the structure on state land and would then lease it to the state, which would eventually end up the owner.

Guinn had recommended two of these projects, but the committees agreed to fund only one of them. The committee rejected Guinn's recommendation to use the lease-purchase arrangement for a $10 million Department of Human Resources building in Carson City.