Nevada university system set for audit

The state Assembly gave final legislative approval late Monday to a bill requiring a major, $90,000 audit of Nevada's university and community college system.

AB148 was sponsored by Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson, and 55 other lawmakers -- Democrats and Republicans in both the Assembly and Senate. The measure went to the governor as the Assembly concurred in Senate amendments to the plan.

The bill calls for an examination of the university system's capital construction projects, athletic programs, personnel, travel and other administration costs, the use of host accounts, investment income and enrollment data.

Also covered are contract and bidding procedures, including contracts for construction, retrofit and repair projects and energy conservation jobs.

Perkins has said lawmakers need better details on how the university system is operating and how it is spending both state and other money it collects each year. Allegations of bid-rigging for maintenance work at the University of Nevada, Reno also prompted the call for an audit.

The last legislative audit of the University and Community College System of Nevada was in 1996. By the time a new legislative audit is done, the previous audit will be nine years old.