Lawmakers criticize plans for school building changes

Thursday, June 17, 2004 | 9:17 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- State legislators unleashed a barrage of criticism Wednesday at suggestions to make changes to proposed buildings at the Nevada State College in Henderson and at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Lawmakers were irked that the Henderson college could not raise $10 million in private donations, as promised, to match the $13 million allocated by the state.

Members of the Legislative Interim Finance Committee also were unhappy with a proposed change in scope of the science and engineering building at UNLV that would lead to an increase in cost.

The state Public Works Board requested the committee to allow a reduction in the size of the academic and student services building at the college in Henderson from 100,000 square feet to 86,038 and planned to start construction in 2005 instead of 2003.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the selling point in approving the building at Henderson was that $10 million would be privately raised.

So far only $1 million has been collected.

"If this is going to succeed, a concerted effort must be made to meet the condition," he said. He and other lawmakers said there were promises four years ago that the $10 million -- and more-- could be raised in private donations.

Sen. Bernice Mathews, D-Reno said she "can't fathom why the community can't come up with the money." She noted there were only 700 students at the college now. Matthews said the state money would be better spent turning the Community College of Southern Nevada's Henderson campus into a four-year college.

Assembly Minority Leader Lynn Hettrick, R-Minden, said the agreement was for the state to provide $13 million if $10 million in private funds were raised.

"This is starting to wear thin," he said.

Interim Chancellor Jim Rogers told the board of regents at its meeting this month in Elko it was impossible to raise the $10 million for the first building on the campus. He suggested asking the 2005 Legislature to pay for the full cost.

The committee deferred action on the issue until its next meeting scheduled for sometime in September.

The committee also rejected a proposal to change the scope of the science and engineering building at UNLV, a request to cancel planned cabinetry work at a savings of $6.8 million and instead allow the school to come back to the 2005 Legislature to ask for that money so it could be completed.

Dan O'Brien, manager of the public works board, said one reason for the suggestion was a 65-percent rise in steel prices, which has driven up the cost of the building.

Assemblyman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, chairman of the finance committee, said the university should stay within its budget. Raggio said the requested change would push the building's total cost from about $70 million to $80 million. While he acknowledged the building was important, Raggio said the total cost could end up at $100 million by the time it is finished.

He said increasing the budget for the project would push needed projects back on the priority list.