Prisons chief says closure could save $9 million a year

By Cy Ryan

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 | 2:56 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Closing the century-old Nevada State Prison in Carson City could save an annual $9 million and the building could be turned into a tourist attraction or a training center, the state corrections director said.

Director Howard Skolnik said Tuesday there are adequate beds in other prisons to house the more than 600 inmates and the state wouldn't need to build another prison for 10 years. He outlined the problems, pitfalls and accomplishments of the prison system Tuesday to a panel looking into ways to promote efficiency in state government.

Chairwoman Carole Vilardo said it appears the state is “penny-wise and pound foolish.” She said money saved from the closure could be put into other areas, such as education.

The Blue Ribbon Panel of the Sage Commission voiced support for Skolnik’s plan, which has been rejected by the Legislature, as well as Secretary of State Ross Miller and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, who are two of the three members of the state prison board.

In his proposed budget submitted to Gov. Jim Gibbons for the coming two fiscal years, Skolnik called for the prison to be shut down. The budget also suggests the elimination of extra pay for those officers who work in rural areas.

Gene Columbus, president of the Nevada Correctional Officers Association, questioned if that much could be saved by shutting down the prison. He said it costs more to produce additional beds.

He also predicted that taking away the extra pay for officers in rural areas would result in a “mass exodus” of workers.

“They have already taken a baseball bat to our insurance,” Columbus said. “We feel the public safety has given enough.”

Skolnik said he reduced the extra pay for rural officers to get within the 10 percent reduction ordered by Gibbons. He said he would recommend to the Legislature that it not treat correctional officers any differently than other state workers.

The director is also recommending in his proposed budget a $15 charge for a person who wants to visit an inmate. This would cover part of the cost of the background check and would be a one-time fee.

Skolnik said he doesn’t know if prisons in other states charge such a fee.

On shutting the Nevada State Prison, Skolnik said there were “significant problems” because there is a long history between the prison and the city. The stone that built the state capitol was made at the prison, and many inmates released from the prison have settled in Carson City and are working there.

“A lot of staff has asked to be transferred there because they want to say they worked at the Nevada State Prison,” Skolnik said.

He said the prison could serve as a stop for the historic V & T railroad, whose route connects Carson City and Virginia City. He said he has talked with state cultural affairs officials about turning it into a museum. He said it could also be used as a center for training officers from across the nation on how to deal with riots.

Any of those programs would bring more money into Carson City, Skolnik said after the hearing.

The downturn in the economy has nixed a plan to build an industrial park in Clark County on 22 acres the prison owns.

Skolnik told the panel that private businesses couldn't get the financing to develop the industrial park near Indian Springs. The state would have leased the property for 35 years with an option to renew and inmates would have been employed in the plants.