New York’s comptroller says capital spending by local governments on roads, bridges and water and sewer systems declined by about 8 percent between 2010 and 2012.

The comptroller’s office estimates that municipalities should be spending about $3.9 billion annually to keep up with deteriorating capital assets but are spending only about one-third of that.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the ongoing “band-aid approach” is insufficient, but the state’s recent influx of settlement money provides some options for new projects.

The report shows local governments, excluding New York City, spent $927 million on roads and bridges in 2012, down $49 million or five percent from two years earlier.

Spending on water and sewer systems dropped in 2012 to $291 million, some $69 million or 19 percent lower than in 2010.

(AP)