Youth camps bill won't cost more this biennium

Douglas County District Judge David Gamble said Thursday he was incorrectly quoted in a Wednesday story as saying legislation to change how Nevada's three regional youth camps are funded won't cost the state any more money.

His testimony before Senate Finance prompted Budget Director Andrew Clinger to tell lawmakers the bill as written would have an impact of $3 million over the biennium.

Gamble agreed the original version of SB85 would have required a significant increase in the governor's proposed budget for the three centers. He said he told Senate Finance there would be no fiscal impact if they adopt his amendment delaying the change in how funding is provided until July 1, 2011.

"There is no increase for this (biennial) budget," he said. "The money is already in the budget."

The two Douglas County camps, China Spring for boys and Aurora Pines for girls, receive $56.90 per bed per day from the state. The 16 counties that use those camps contribute $97.73 per bed per day.

But Spring Mountain's costs are covered almost completely by Clark County. SB85 would require the state to fund Spring Mountain the same way it funds the Douglas centers. In the 2012-2013 biennium, he said there would be a significant cost to the state.

"There's no impact this biennium. When the money kicks in for Spring Mountain, then obviously there's a big increase," he said.

Gamble said it's time the state realizes its responsibility to pay for Spring Mountain, China Spring and Aurora Pines. He said handling juvenile offenders in those centers saves the state a lot of money by keeping them out of the state's juvenile prison system.

"Historically, Clark County has paid the expense of Spring Mountain by themselves except for one-shot money the state has decided to include," he said. "If the state passes the bill, the state will recognize its responsibility to treat all three the same."

SB85 also would have the state provide its contribution directly to Clark and Douglas counties, which would take over the financial management of the centers. Finally, it would put in statute the two-thirds/one-third cost split between the state and counties and require the state's contribution to increase by the inflation rate each budget cycle.

The committee has taken no action on the bill.

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