Briefly in the news

A financial analysis of a potential Great Park by the Orange County

auditor controller released Friday puts a $37.3-million price tag on the

project.

If the money were raised over a 20-year span, it would cost the county

slightly less than $2 million per year from the general fund, the report

shows.

The new figure would be significantly less than the $2.1-billion cost

an earlier study placed on the plan, but the two reports analyze vastly

different projects.

The county’s report looks at a pared down version of the plan proposed

by Irvine Mayor Larry Agran -- a museum, college and some sports fields.

The county’s report also reaches the conclusion that the county could

“avoid any land acquisition cost” for either a park or airport for the

closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

The earlier study placed the cost of the land at more than $400

million.

The auditor’s report also lauds the airport as a superior economic

benefit to the county over the park.