Prison construction gets more funding

Nevada's Public Works Board voted Monday to add even more funding to the prison system's construction budget for the coming two years.

They held off last week on finalizing their building, maintenance and planning recommendations until receiving the latest prison population projections.

Director of Corrections Glen Whorton told them Monday projections received this past week show the male inmate population will be a bit higher than originally estimated. Interim Public Works Manager Gus Nuñez said that will necessitate putting planning money in this budget for two additional housing units at Southern Desert Correctional Center and planning money for the state's eighth men's prison.

The board agreed to add about $1.2 million to the total prison construction budget for the coming two years - bringing the total to more than $313 million of the nearly $758 million capital improvement projects budget.

The overcrowding has the state worried about possible lawsuits. Prison projects make up most of the top 10 priorities Public Works is submitting to the governor's office.

Whorton said the added planning money will enable actual building on the two extra housing units at the start of the 2009-11 budget cycle.

But he said he is still worried about the projections, which he says have been consistently below the actual growth of the system. He said the system currently has nearly 500 more inmates than budgeted for.

"I'm just not comfortable with the projections because I think that's what's led us to significant overcrowding," he said.

To make up the shortage of beds in the near term, he said he is asking for six modular housing units - two for Southern Desert Correctional Center, two for Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City and two for the women's prison in North Las Vegas. Those, he said, can be installed and in use within six months of receiving funding.

That request will be made through his regular budget and provide space for up to 384 inmates.

University officials asked the board to add Health Sciences Center projects, which didn't make the cut in the original list. Vice Chancellor Dan Klaich said what they want is planning money totaling about $12 million so two major projects can be ready for actual construction funding in the next budget cycle.

But Board Chair Rene Ashleman said the problem is there isn't a lot of extra revenue available.

"We are spectacularly out of money," he said.

Two years ago, the university system won most of the extra funding available for construction. But most system requests for new construction didn't make the board's final list of priorities this year.

The system will, however, receive funding for furnishings, fixtures and equipment needed to open several major new buildings including UNR's library and the engineering, science and technology building at UNLV. Those are the top priorities after the prison construction projects, which include major expansions of the women's prison and men's High Desert Correctional Center plus three new conservation camps.

The board's list goes to Gov. Kenny Guinn's administration, which will make the final decision on what to send to the Legislature in February.

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