State to bill feds for more New Year’s 3costs

Jace Radke

Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004 | 11:22 a.m.

State Homeland Security Adviser Jerry Bussell said he plans to submit a bill to the Homeland Security Department this week for costs of additional security associated with the Las Vegas' New Year's celebration.

Bussell said he expects the additional costs to be in excess of $700,000.

"We're still putting the figures together, but I expect we'll be able to give the Department of Homeland Security a number this week," Bussell said.

Money that state and local agencies spent above the normal security costs associated with a high, or level orange, terror alert can be reimbursed, Bussell said.

Las Vegas went to level orange along with the rest of the country beginning on Dec. 21 and stayed at that level to Jan. 9.

Metro Police have tallied more than $317,000 in additional costs associated with the high alert level and measures taken to safeguard an estimated crowd of about 270,000 New Year's revelers, Assistant Sheriff Ray Flynn said.

Overall Metro spent about $443,000 for policing on New Year's Eve and into New Year's Day, a department spokesman said.

The Nevada Highway Patrol plans to ask the Homeland Security Department to reimburse more than $56,000 spent largely on bringing additional manpower to Southern Nevada for the celebration.

Along with reimbursement for additional costs the state is scheduled to receive $26.5 million in homeland security funds in 2004, plus Clark County is in line for a separate $10.5 million grant as part of the Urban Area Security Initiative.