Outside scrutiny for center; Accounting firm hired to analyze economics of $400M Albany facility.(Main)

Byline: JAMES M. ODATO - Capitol bureau

ALBANY - State officials are taking a second look at committing funds to the Albany Convention Center and have retained a consultant to examine the nearly $400 million project.

The state has retained PricewaterhouseCoopers to study the economics of the project, which was estimated to cost $200 million to build when Gov. George Pataki agreed to help finance it with $75 million in taxpayer funds in 2006.

Now, the price tag is projected to be $390 million - or more depending on interest rates and inflation - and the Albany Convention Center Authority is asking the state to come up with another $190 million in …