Finance panel makes pitches for surplus funds

Monday, Feb. 21, 2005 | 10:48 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposals to further develop the Southern Nevada Railroad Museum and to expand the Nevada Cancer Institute to Reno went before lawmakers today.

The Senate Finance Committee voted to introduce a number of bills using surplus money for such things as continuing to treat mental health patients in Southern Nevada and construction of a courthouse in White Pine County.

The committee agreed to sponsor a bill to allocate $859,140 to the Department of Cultural Affairs for development, renovation and expansion of the Southern Nevada Railroad Museum in Boulder City.

It also agreed to sponsor a bill that would appropriate $10 million for the University and Community College System to help the Nevada Cancer Institute in Las Vegas to expand its program to Reno.

Also, the committee voted to sponsor a bill for $2.7 million to allow the emergency hospital annex at the Desert Regional Center to continue treating mentally ill patients for the rest of this fiscal that ends June 30.

The annex operation was opened to try to stem the tide of mental patients overcrowding hospital emergency rooms in Southern Nevada.

A 150-bed mental hospital is under construction in Las Vegas but won't be opened until next year.

The Senate committee this morning also approved introduction of a bill to pump an additional $71 million into the state's "rainy day" fund, used to meet emergencies if tax revenues do not generate as much money as expected.

State Budget Director Perry Comeaux said this would put the fund at $200 million. Its largest sum in the past was $136 million, but the fund was drained in 2003 when the economy was in a slump.

Comeaux said the higher reserve is needed as the state's budget increases.

After introduction, these bills will return to the Finance Committee for further study.

An $8 million allocation was suggested to help build a new courthouse in Ely to replace the present facility. Many of the cases being heard now come from the inmates at the state prison in White Pine County and the courthouse is not equipped with adequate security for them.

A bill will be sponsored to appropriate $1.3 million to the state Department of Corrections for its takeover of the women's prison in North Las Vegas. The state replaced a private company at the correctional center last year and needs the extra money to get through the remainder of this fiscal year.

The committee also heard a plea from Nye County for $300,000 to hire veteran services officers in the Pahrump area. Laura Billman, lobbyist for Nye County, told the committee there were 7,000 veterans in area and they now have to travel to Las Vegas to receive service. She said it was hard for some of these aging veterans to make that round trip.

She said Nye County is putting up $59,000 and the state appropriation would be a "one-time only" allocation. After that the office would be supported by donations, federal grants and Nye County.

Reno city officials also asked the committee for $5 million to complete Reno's $19 million homeless shelter. The city has raised $9 million and needs another $10 million to finish the project. The committee agreed to introduce a bill for $5 million and will take testimony later on the project on the 394-bed project.