Lawmakers direct agency to better manage building inflation

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — Nevada lawmakers have directed the state Public Works Division to get a better grasp on construction inflation and to separate those costs from other expenses that raise state building projects above initial budgets.

The Nevada Appeal reports a joint subcommittee Monday instructed the agency to develop a better method of projecting inflation that must be worked into the cost of buildings.

Lawmakers also directed the agency to track and report the other costs quarterly to the interim finance committee.

Democratic state Sen. Chris Brooks says the agency has blamed increased project costs on inflation when it's actually from changes to the projects.

The discussion on the agency was brought forward during a review of 2017 capital improvement projects.

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Information from: Nevada Appeal, http://www.nevadaappeal.com