Higher Ed system gets back one of three projects axed in budget cuts

By Geoff Dornan

Appeal Capitol Bureau

The university system has cut a deal that gets back one of three Health Sciences System projects that were cut to help cover the state's revenue shortfall.

After Chancellor Jim Rogers and the Board of Regents decided not to cut the Furnishings, Fittings and Equipment for those three projects, Director of Administration Andrew Clinger cut them anyway.

Clinger said the cuts didn't hurt the system because they couldn't actually complete the three projects and use that FF&E money this biennium anyway.

Regents and Rogers howled, saying that decision unfairly added $7.2 million to the system's $57.6 million share of state budget reductions.

Executive Vice Chancellor Dan Klaich, at the board's direction, appealed one of those cuts to Clinger saying project managers believe they can finish the Shadow Lane research lab remodel this budget cycle.

"The design is going ahead right now and we think we can fast track it, can have it ready for occupancy and students in the fall of '09," Klaich said.

In trade, for restoring the $2.27 million to buy and install equipment at the biomedical research building, he offered the state another project that he said won't get done in time to need FF&E funding this budget cycle.

Clinger said that is FF&E money for medical administration offices in Savitt Hall - about $1.6 million.

Klaich said the laboratory project is the "proof of concept building" that will show the state exactly how the Health Sciences System project will create efficiencies and expand learning opportunities in health programs throughout the Nevada System of Higher Education.

He said those medical and biological laboratories will be used by all the health programs at UNLV and Nevada State College and help bring those programs together.

Clinger said the reason the money was cut in the first place was because the schedule said the lab remodel wouldn't be completed until the next budget cycle.

"That was our reason for taking it," he said. "They said they can fast track it and use the money, so, yes, we made them the trade."

Klaich conceded the other two FF&E budgets - the $1.9 million UNR Medical Learning Lab and UNLV's $2.99 million Advanced Clinical Training and research Center - can't be used this biennium. The system will include that funding in its 2010-11 budgets.

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