CityCenter builder asks Nevada for investigation into MGM Mirage not paying $490 million bill

Builder wants state to probe MGM Mirage nonpayment

LAS VEGAS — The primary contractor that built the $8.5 billion CityCenter complex on the Las Vegas Strip is asking Nevada’s governor to investigate why MGM Mirage hasn’t paid $490 million in construction bills.

MGM Mirage has said it believes it owes Perini far less because the Harmon Hotel was shortened and delayed because of problems with its reinforcing steel.

A spokesman for Gov. Jim Gibbons told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Gibbons hasn’t seen the letter from Perini Building Co.

Spokesman Dan Burns says he’s not sure whether the office has received it.

Perini says in the letter the Harmon issue is a “smoke screen” and an excuse for MGM Mirage to not pay.

MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman says the company disagrees with all of Perini’s claims in its letter. But he said a courtroom is a better place to resolve the case.

A lawsuit over the bill was filed by Perini in Clark County District Court on March 24.