Work put off on $4.8 million center at women’s prison

CARSON CITY -- The state will not construct a $4.8 million transition center at the women's prison in North Las Vegas until legislators have more time to determine whether it is needed, the Assembly's speaker said Friday.

It had been thought that the project would go forward after the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee declined Thursday to cancel the project that state officials called unnecessary.

But on Friday, Speaker Barbara Buckley, D-Las Vegas, said state Public Works Board Manager Gus Nunez had agreed that work would not begin on the center until after a legislative meeting in early April.

Work will continue on the other portions of the $40 million project that will add 400 beds at the women's prison, Buckley said.

Nunez could not be reached for comment, but Deputy Manager Evan Dale confirmed that the transition project would be put on hold until legislators provide direction.

Corrections Director Howard Skolnik told legislators Thursday that the transition center no longer is needed and the state could save $4.8 million by approving a change order to delete it from the prison expansion project.

"In no instance would anyone suggest we should build beds we don't need," Buckley said Friday.

Nunez told legislators during the Interim Finance Committee meeting on Thursday that he needed an immediate decision to stop the transition project because the contractor was ready to pour the foundation.

Despite repeated moves by committee Chairman Morse Arberry, D-Las Vegas, to secure approval, members never voted on Nunez's request.

That led Gov. Jim Gibbons to issue a statement Friday condemning legislators for allowing an unnecessary construction project to proceed when the state faces a revenue shortfall.

"Experts have stated that this project is unnecessary at this time and can be deferred to provide further savings to the state to accommodate a nearly $540 million revenue shortfall," Gibbons said.

During the Thursday committee meeting, Skolnik said that only 21 female prisoners now qualify for the transition center. They could be sent to the Casa Grande Transition Center in Las Vegas where there is space for 150 more inmates, he said.

But Buckley pointed out that the Corrections Department only nine months ago told legislators that 339 female prisoners could qualify for help at a transition center. The Legislature then approved the prison expansion.

She said Friday that legislators want to hear more from Skolnik about his plans for construction, not only for the women's prison but also for the entire prison system.

The discussion on deleting the women's transition center Thursday was the first time many members heard the project was not needed, Buckley said.

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