(a) Before the hearing is conducted in the applicant county, the executive director shall prepare and distribute a staff analysis of the application, which shall include, but not be limited to, a review of written comments filed by interested persons, and rebuttals filed by the applicant. The staff analysis may also include a review of the applicant's revenue sources, including the applicant's flexibility in directing its resources; review of the applicant's budget expenditures, statutory relief, contingencies, and fund balances; an analysis of the applicant's department-by-department evaluation of unmet need in basic county services; and a preliminary recommendation whether the Commission should approve or deny the application. The staff analysis shall describe the application and assist the Commission in determining whether or not to make a finding of significant financial distress.

(b) The executive director shall send the staff analysis out for comment at least 10 days prior to the hearing conducted in the applicant county.