Sandoval budget would boost museum, staff hours

CARSON CITY - Most state museums would be open at least one more day a week under Gov. Brian Sandoval's proposed $6.55 billion budget, Nevada legislators were told Tuesday.

Peter Barton, administrator of the state Division of Museums and History, told the pre-session Budget Subcommittee that museum hours were cut to four days a week and staff working hours to 32 a week in 2010 because of the recession.

He said museums "immediately" would increase hours and employees would be put back on 40-hour schedules if the governor's budget is approved.

He also said there has been a 26 percent increase over the past year in museum attendance and that 54,000 people visited the new state museum in Las Vegas in its first year of operation.

In response to legislators' questions, Barton said he expects a 30,000 increase in museum attendance if the open hours are increased.

He said the increase might not necessarily bring the state more revenue since much of the higher attendance likely would be schoolchildren visiting museums. They are admitted for free.

Under the agency's plan, the state museum in Las Vegas, now open Friday through Monday, would be open Thursday through Monday.

The Lost City Museum in Overton, now open Thursday through Sunday, would be open Tuesday through Sunday.

The state railroad museum in Boulder City would continue to be open only on Saturdays and Sunday.

Contact Capital Bureau Chief Ed Vogel at evogel@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.