Assembly OKs money for projects, repairs
CARSON CITY -- A bill to provide funds for $336 million in state construction projects and building repairs over the next two years was quickly introduced and then passed 36-6 Friday in the Assembly.
The capital improvements program outlined in Assembly Bill 564 is less than half of the $800 million program approved by the Legislature in 2007.
But it does contain state funds needed to construct a $35.8 million Nevada Army National Guard readiness center in North Las Vegas and a $24.3 million field maintenance shop for the National Guard in Las Vegas. Almost all the funding for the projects comes from the federal government.
The proposed state project list also provides $5 million to construct exhibits needed for the soon-to-be completed $45.5 million state museum at the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. Exhibit construction will take about 13 months, according to state Cultural Affairs Director Michael Fischer.
Before the museum can open to the public, however, the 2011 Legislature will have to come up with the money for staff, or another funding source will have to be located.
The building project list also includes $7.9 million to create a Southern Regional Medical Facility at the High Desert State Prison.
State government will issue $143.9 million in bonds to cover its costs of the building projects.
Money comes from a 17 cents per $100 million property tax paid by property owners.
From the tax revenue, the state also will pay $15 million a year in principal and interest costs for the $160 million local government line of credit taken out during December's special legislative session.
Because funds for constructing new buildings are scarce, Assemblywoman Debbie Smith, D-Sparks, said most of the funds will go toward repairs and upkeep of current buildings.
"We need to take care of things that affect the safety of our citizens first," Smith said.
For example, the bill includes $471,000 for Governor's Mansion safety and security upgrades and $3.3 million for campus improvements at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
The bill is expected to pass the Senate over the weekend as the Legislature works overtime to adjourn as scheduled on Monday.
Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
Bills advance
CARSON CITY -- With their 2009 session scheduled to end in a few days, Nevada lawmakers kept working Friday on still-pending measures covering a wide range of issues.
The Senate unanimously passed Assembly Bill 18, which authorizes up to $100 million in bonds that would pay for environmental improvement projects at Lake Tahoe during the next 10 years.
Proponents say the lake's famed clarity has been declining and the bonds will pay for projects to stop that trend. The general-obligations bonds will be paid back through property taxes.
The Senate Finance Committee passed Assembly Bill 561, which eliminates the state Consumer Affairs Division for the next two fiscal years.
Sen. Bob Coffin, D-Las Vegas, was the only committee member to cast a no vote. In a reference to Gov. Jim Gibbons, who sought the elimination, Coffin said, "I am opposed to dismantling another good agency -- unlike the governor."
Senate Finance members also passed Senate Bill 330, Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford's plan for sweeping regulatory reform of the state Department of Education and the elected board that oversees K-12 schools.
Among the bills on the latest list of bills signed into law by the governor was Senate Bill 162, which moves the date of Nevada's mid-August primary elections to early June.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
