LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Las Vegas's capital project budget will take a nearly $20 million hit to pay part of a nearly $286 million settlement with the owner of the defunct Badlands golf course.
WATCH | Las Vegas cuts $20 million in projects to pay Badlands settlement
Mayor Shelley Berkley hinted at cutbacks during her State of the City speech in April.
"As a result, the city will tighten our belt for awhile, and some projects have been put on hold for awhile, but we are moving forward," Berkley told the crowd.
She made settling the long-running Badlands case a priority when she was elected in 2024.
WATCH | Successes and challenges addressed in Berkley's State of the City
The city was sued by the owner of the defunct golf course, who alleged the city improperly denied development of homes on the site, largely due to opposition from neighbors. After a series of high-profile losses in court, and facing a huge legal liability, the city elected to settle the case for $636 million.
A portion of that settlement came from selling the land in question, with the city paying the remaining $286 million. It's paying that money from general fund reserves, selling Cashman Center and delayed capital projects.
Here's the list of delayed capital projects:
- Alley beautification: $900,000
- Animal shelter expansion feasibility study: $350,000 (although the city is expecting to approve a new animal shelter for the southern part of the valley which would free up space in the existing shelter)
- CLV Smart Cities Pilot Project for Autonomous Vehicles: $215,000
- Detention Center expansion: $8.6 million, although the city recently finished a $10 million rehab of the jail which puts off the need for expansion
- Downtown beautification program: $1,126,000
- East Las Vegas area plan: $500,000 (note that this CIP has been allocated $361,500 previously and these funds were going to be additions)
- Huntridge Circle Park modifications: $1 million
- Joint Information Center upgrades: $300,000
- Las Vegas Medical District signs: $400,000
- Las Vegas Medical District Park: $820,000
- Park entry sign modernization: $234,000
- Public Art Master Plan: $500,000, although the city is separately funding $100,000 in public art
- Records digitizing of inmate files: $300,000
- Wall painting and fencing improvements: $142,000
- Ward 4 Amphitheater feasibility study: $300,000
- Woodlawn Cemetery expansion and fence replacement: $3.5 million
- Viper Lacrosse field upgrade: $500,000
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