Members of the state Senate have good reasons to move ahead on proposed legislation to expand oversight over how SUNY contracts are awarded.
The Legislature in 2011 removed the state comptroller’s role in approving SUNY contracts. In light of the federal indictments that have resulted from the bid-rigging scandal related to the Buffalo Billion program, lawmakers believe it’s time to revert to the former process. The controversy has involved SUNY Polytechnic Institute, representatives of COR Development Co. and individuals with connections to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.
Senators are debating a bill that would restore this oversight authority to the comptroller’s office. This is a necessary step toward rebuilding credibility in the eyes of constituents, who have demanded more accountability. But at the same time, SUNY officials are concerned over how this would affect their operations.
“Proposed changes, which will come into focus during the upcoming legislative session, include amending or altogether repealing a 2011 statute that provided SUNY more flexibility by eliminating the need for pre-approval from the state comptroller for all SUNY procurements (excluding nonconstruction service purchases totaling more than $250,000) — a measure lawmakers reauthorized in April through 2021,” according to an article published Oct. 10 by Politico New York. “Changing the 2011 legislation could pose an unexpected problem for SUNY, lengthening the process for equipment and construction purchases, a process SUNY says is ‘completely unrelated’ to the economic development activities in question as a result of the charges against (former SUNY Polytechnic Institute President Alain) Kaloyeros.”
The article quoted SUNY spokeswoman Casey Vattimo as saying: “Before 2011, the comptroller had to pre-approve every SUNY contract totaling more than $250,000, often causing delays in getting needed equipment to our campuses or beginning new construction.”
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli must once again be involved in looking over SUNY contracts, and we urge legislators to approve this bill and send it to Mr. Cuomo for his signature. He believed that eliminating his office’s role in this instance was poor planning, and he was correct.
SUNY officials don’t want excessive delays in the process to approve contracts, and we understand their concern. Time is money, and holding up the works could lead to unintended consequences.
But it’s not as if Mr. DiNapoli will be scrutinizing every contract that SUNY wants to implement. The proposed legislation would his office involved with contracts worth at least $250,000.
Slowing things down a tad to put another set of eyes on these contracts is an important step toward ensuring they are on the up and up. Putting into place the appropriate oversight for vital financial matters is a modest burden that SUNY is going to have to accept.