By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Erie County is a step closer to construction of a new central police public safety campus in downtown Buffalo.
The County Legislature Thursday approved the borrowing of 25-million dollars in bonds for construction. The facility would be located near the Erie Community College City Campus. Legislature Steve McCarville says this is a "big first step" in getting the project underway.
"We have to begin construction next year because our forensics lab would lose its accreditations," McCarville said. "This is an exciting project to streamline and consolidate a lot of central police services. I think you're going to see 9-1-1 become more effective not having so many points (locations) in which calls are taken."
Although lawmakers unanimously approved the bonds for the new police campus, Democratic legislator Crystal Peoples says she is concerned about the county borrowing to support the project. Peoples says the Legislature should not be forced to go outside the budget process for additional borrowing.