LOOKING IN ON: CARSON CITY

Friday, April 20, 2007 | 7:20 a.m.

CARSON CITY - Nevada voters in 2002 approved $35 million for building a state museum at Las Vegas Springs Preserve, and construction should finally begin next month.

But there's an $11.5 million shortfall to complete the project because of inflation.

Scott Sisco, the state Cultural Affairs Department's administrative assistant, told a joint Senate-Assembly budget committee that the cost of building materials has risen by about $300,000 a month for several years.

The contract for the museum has been awarded to the J. A. Tiberti Construction Co., but it covers only the building's shell and electrical systems. The $11.5 million needed would complete the interior of the 68,000-square-foot structure near U.S. 95 and Valley View Boulevard. The building is scheduled to be completed in spring 2009.

The department also wants $1.5 million to rehabilitate the old state museum in nearby Lorenzi Park.

Because the two sites are only several miles apart, committee members wondered whether they would compete for visitors. Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said Lorenzi Park must have a different attraction, such as trains.

Michael Fisher, director of the Cultural Affairs Department, promised that the Lorenzi Park museum won't be "handled as a stepchild." Lorenzi's exhibits will have "an entirely different feel."

The subcommittee did not take action on the request for the more money.

By a near party-line vote, Republicans have started a drive to scrap the election of the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents.

The regents are now elected from various districts. But under Senate Joint Resolution 4, the governor would appoint regents, with the Legislature establishing qualifications, terms and size of the board.

The proposed constitutional amendment "is not intended to be punitive," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, "We have some fine regents." But he said an appointed board would "provide a better method of governance.''

The regents are the only such board elected in the nation, Raggio said.

To take effect, the resolution must be approved by the Assembly and again by the 2009 Legislature, then ratified by voters.

The Senate approved the resolution by a 12-9 vote, with Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, joining the 11 Senate Republicans.