By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Comptroller Nancy Naples is calling for a more formalized process for evaluating regional initiatives.
Naples says there needs to be more in-depth financial analyses of regional proposals coming before the County Legislature. She said such analyses were missing from two proposals approved by the Legislature in recent months -- the county's takeover of the city's garbage transfer station and this week's contribution of $5 million dollars for Dunn Tire Park improvements.
Naples is asking that her office should be reviewing these projects early in the process. The comptroller said her after-the-fact review of the transfer station initiative shows the takeover will cost the county $2.3 million in the first year.
"It's important to taxpayers that the comptroller review the fiscal impact of regional initiatives before final decisions are made," Naples said.