CAPITOL — Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, is raising concerns about a proposed bill to increase the bonding authority of the Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority from $50 million to $75 million, and has not agreed to co-sponsor it.

The bill, S-7721, is sponsored in the Senate by Tedisco’s fellow Republican, Sen. Hugh Farley of Niskayuna. The Schenectady County Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, requested the legislation, and Farley spokesman David Smingler said it is the senator’s policy to support home-rule messages from local governments.

Tedisco chief of staff Bill Sherman said Tedisco would likely support a smaller increase in the bonding cap, perhaps to $60 million, but also wants to see other changes in the bill, including a qualifications requirement for members of the Metroplex board relating to their experience with public finance and economic development.

Tedisco also wants the county Legislature required to vote up or down within a certain time period on recommendations for board positions made by local officials, according to Sherman. He said this was prompted by a recent “abuse of power” by Susan Savage, D-Niskayuna, chairwoman of the county Legislature, when she postponed a vote on the nomination of Rotterdam’s Patrick Saccocio from August 2007 until February of this year. Saccocio was then confirmed, with Savage voting against.

In response, Savage released a statement saying: “Neither Mr. Tedisco nor his staff should play politics with the future of economic development in Schenectady County. There is no time for silly games.”

Savage said: “If Mr. Saccocio [a lawyer] would have recused himself from working for entities with business before Metroplex, then I would have supported his appointment. I am under no obligation to vote for the appointment of Mr. Tedisco and Mr. Sherman’s political buddies. ... I am confident that the Assembly minority leader will not want to try to stop all of the economic progress that has occurred in this community during the past four years. There is much more to be accomplished and that should be our shared goal.”

Sherman said Tedisco also wants to see the results of the state comptroller’s first-ever audit of Metroplex. That won’t be done for at least several months, according to comptroller’s office spokesman Bill Reynolds.

But Metroplex Chairman Ray Gillen, who with two senior staff members met Wednesday with Sherman and Michael Cuevas, the Assembly minority counsel, said the comptroller’s audit should be “a nonissue.” He said he hopes the bill can be passed this legislative session, which is scheduled to end June 23.

Gillen characterized the meeting as productive. Sherman, who declined to let a reporter attend it, said Tedisco has not made any final decisions on the legislation. He said he was going to contact Savage and Farley about the bill and possible amendments.

Assemblyman George Amedore, R-Rotterdam, said he shares Tedisco’s concerns about the bill, which he is not opposing but has not co-sponsored. Even though Republicans are in the minority in the Assembly, local legislation such as this is normally introduced by local legislators. There are no Democratic Assembly members from Schenectady County.

Farley’s bill memo says Metroplex needs the bonding increase “in order to maintain its positive momentum.” Without it, Gillen said, Metroplex would run up against limits in continuing its expansion of the tax base.

Sherman said Metroplex would not have enough sales tax revenue to pay back the higher amount of bonding, but Gillen disputed that. Metroplex has a good credit rating, Gillen said, and “We have the ability to support additional debt.”

Farley’s memo said the bill “does not increase any taxes. New projects financed through these bonds bring increased employment and other economic benefits, resulting in a positive fiscal impact on the community.”

Farley was the driving force behind the creation of Metroplex 10 years ago. His bill memo cites Metroplex as having spurred an economic revival extending from downtown Schenectady to the surrounding towns. Tedisco voted for the bill in 1998, while also supporting amendments to it that did not pass the Senate.

County Legislator Joseph Suhrada, R-Rotterdam, who voted against raising the bond cap, said he could support increasing it to a lower amount such as $60 million. He said he believes Savage and the Democrats held up the Saccocio appointment because they were waiting to see if Democrats would be successful in last year’s Rotterdam Town Board elections. They were not.