Nevada legislators decide to lease apartments

CARSON CITY - Nevada lawmakers have gone into the apartment business, leasing a decaying, 31-unit building just south of the Legislative Building.

The Legislative Commission agreed Monday to pay $10,000 a month to lease the Capital Apartments after an administrator said the building should be an office for legislative staff members.

Members of the commission also agreed to propose a bill to buy and renovate the apartment building in 2001 for $1.75 million.

Lorne Malkiewich, director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau, said the purchase would be an opportunity for the Legislature to find a building for staff at a relatively inexpensive price.

The Legislature employs 225 full-time workers and plans to add 78 people to work during the legislative session that starts in February. Ten additional full-time staff members may be added later in 2001.

The move to acquire more space comes two years after the Legislature moved into an expanded Legislative Building, doubled in size in a $19 million project.

The move also comes a few years after the Legislature limited its sessions to 120 days every other year. Before, sessions had lasted more than 165 days routinely.

Malkiewich said a management company will operate the apartment building. Its owners have filed for bankruptcy, but tenants still live there.