Regents agree to independent study of funding gap

LAS VEGAS - University regents agreed to an independent study to examine the funding gap favoring students in northern Nevada, but opted to take the wait-and-see attitude on reallocating funds to the Las Vegas Valley.

"I'm happy we got the study," Regent Steve Sisolak said Friday. "I'm disappointed we didn't do something immediately."

The regents voted in favor of an independent study to determine the exact amount of the funding disparity.

That amount has been in dispute, with Sisolak and Regent Mark Alden claiming a $3,000-per-student gap and University of Nevada, Reno backers saying it's only $784-per-student.

Alden had proposed reallocating the estate tax fund, but the board voted to delay any immediate action and will wait until May to consider dipping into that fund. That's when Gov. Kenny Guinn has said he will know whether any extra funding will be available for top-priority items he had to leave out of his initial budget.

After the proposal failed, Alden immediately demanded in a news release the resignation of regents Dorothy Gallagher, Douglas Hill and Howard Rosenberg, all from northern Nevada.

The funding issue has been around for years, but didn't get much attention until the last regents' election. Sisolak and Alden have made it a priority to get the funding gap resolved.

Southern Nevada teaches two-thirds of the state's students but with less than one-half of the budget pie.

Sisolak and Alden, both of Las Vegas, argued that the budget does not adequately address the enrollment growth in the Las Vegas Valley.

Later Friday, Sisolak questioned UNR President Joe Crowley about the need for the so-called Redfield campus when southern Nevada could use the money more.

"I question whether or not this would be a priority at this time," Sisolak said.

Crowley said he appreciated the growth in southern Nevada, but "I believe in long-term planning."

Regents began discussing the controversial issue on Thursday and continued the marathon meeting most of the day on Friday.

archive