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| Prison shutdown questioned |
| By The Associated Press |
| Published: 01/27/2009 |
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NEVADA - A move to close the old Nevada State Prison was questioned Monday by state lawmakers, who demanded more details and said the proposed shutdown might not produce the Gibbons administration's estimate of a $37 million budget savings. Corrections Director Howard Skolnik told the legislators reviewing his $481 million, two-year state General Fund budget plan that the medium-security prison, dating to the 1870s, warrants closure because it's bad shape and "isn't a safe institution." But Assemblywoman Kathy McClain, D-Las Vegas, said the idea of closing the prison in Carson City and continuing work on a $200 million-plus prison expansion project at Indian Springs in southern Nevada seems "just kind of ridiculous." Skolnik said the money for the Indian Springs prison comes from bond revenues while the savings from the NSP closure would preserve state General Fund dollars. His budget plan also calls for closure of a prison camp in Tonopah. McClain also questioned whether the NSP closure would save as much as Skolnik said it would. She added that legislators have "kind of spun our wheels with the Department of Corrections for a number of years" and "a more intelligent approach" is needed in the 2009 session. Senate Majority Leader Steven Horsford, D-North Las Vegas, said he wanted many more details on the prison budget. He added it seemed like lawmakers were being "diverted" and not getting direct answers on the spending plan. Read more. If link has expired, check the website of the article's original news source. |
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