Construction plan can't be finalized until Corrections receives prison projections

The state Public Works Board approved the manager's recommended construction and maintenance plan Friday with only two minor changes.

But interim manager Gus Nuñez said the program - which would spend $756 million over the next two years - can't be finalized until the Department of Corrections gets its latest projections. And those projections, he said, will almost certainly increase the $312 million of that already dedicated to the prison system.

Director of Corrections Glenn Whorton told the board Nevada's prison population has consistently exceeded projections since 2002, and the system is this year averaging about 500 more inmates than his department was budgeted for.

"The answer is this isn't good enough and it's going to get worse," said Board Chairman Rene Ashleman.

"That's a distinct possibility," said Whorton.

Whorton was meeting with consultants to discuss those prison projections later Friday.

He told the board they would have his analysis of what the new projections mean to his construction needs before the Sept. 25 meeting at which they have to finalize recommendations for the governor and budget office.

Beyond concerns about prison construction, the only real change the board made to the manager's recommendations was to add projects rehabilitating and remodeling the Sierra Front and Elko fire dispatch centers. A Nevada Division of Forestry spokesman said those two projects are vital to Nevada's ability to fight wildland fires.

Ashleman urged the board to add them, saying the $2.2 million total was worth it "to keep the state of Nevada from burning down."

That brings the total state funding in the proposed Capital Improvement Program to $710.6 million plus $45.6 million in "other" funding which includes federal as well as local money plus gifts and donations.

Deputy Director of Corrections Daryl Rexwinkel said the most critical need is more space for female inmates whose numbers have grown by double digit percentages every year since 2001. He said they have 848 beds for 1,076 women prisoners.

He said the total prison population has averaged 12,394 this year but the system is budgeted for only 11,896 inmates - a difference of 498.

The proposed building program includes $60.7 million to add 300 cells and a 100-bed transitional center to the women's prison in North Las Vegas and $51.7 million to add two housing units with 336 cells for the men's High Desert State Prison. It also funds construction of new conservation camps at Indian Springs and Jean in the south and Carson City.

When major maintenance projects and planning for the state's eighth prison are added in, the total is more than $312 million.

The list also includes $48.7 million to build a 50-bed forensic mental health facility in Las Vegas. That will be a southern version of Lakes Crossing, essentially a prison for criminal defendants who are mentally incompetent to be tried.

The university system will get furnishings, fittings and equipment to open six major projects including UNR's new library which are nearing completion plus money for four other projects. The total for higher education is $91.2 million.

There are also two public-safety projects on the list, which Ashleman said have so much "other" money it makes no sense for the state not to include them.

They are the Civil Support Team Weapons of Mass Destruction center and Southern Training Academy for the highway patrol. The first has $14 million in other money and just $4.3 million from the state.

The second is $17.9 million in non-state cash and less than $2 million from the state.

Nuñez said the plan is to ask for early funding from the 2007 Legislature to jump start some of the most desperately needed projects, including the women's prison and High Desert expansions. He said that way, some of those projects can be under way next summer.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.