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Hillsborough Superintendent Guards Classroom Money

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 16, 2008

TAMPA - Hillsborough County's proposal to use money earmarked for school construction to build new roads is a bad idea and probably illegal, Hillsborough Schools Superintendent MaryEllen Elia wrote in a letter Tuesday to county commissioners.

"This could have serious consequences on our ability to provide classrooms for the children of Hillsborough County, as well as consequences for new development," wrote Elia. The letter also was signed by school board chairwoman Jennifer Faliero.

The letter appears to have had some effect.

County commissioners had been scheduled to hold a public hearing today on a proposal to allow school impact fees paid by developers to be used for transportation improvements. Such improvements are necessary because of new school construction, county officials have said.

Commission chairman Ken Hagan, who met with Faliero and other school officials Monday, said the letter reinforced his decision to ask his board to continue the hearing.

"We need to understand how much money we're talking about and specifics on how it would work," Hagan said late Tuesday.

School board leaders were surprised late last week when they learned the proposal was scheduled to come before the commission today. The school district has a five-year plan that relies on $112.9 million in impact fee funding, and the county's proposal "seriously jeopardizes" the district's ability to meet its legal obligations, the letter said.

The county has many failing roads, but school impact fees are not an appropriate source of funding to fix the problem, Elia and Faliero's letter said.

The school board sued the county last year over whether the board's responsibility to pay for transportation improvements extends beyond the areas adjacent to schools. At the very least, the county should wait until the court has made its finding, the letter said.

"We believe the tax dollars should be spent building classrooms and roads and not wasted on lawsuits between public agencies," stated Elia and Faliero, who have asked commissioners to reject the proposal.

A hearing has not been set, and a court-ordered mediation failed to resolve the disagreement.

Deputy County Administrator Wally Hill had not read the letter until contacted Tuesday by The Tampa Tribune.

"I certainly understand their concerns and their perceptions about diverting funds," Hill said of school officials. "But off-site improvements caused by the impact of schools is an appropriate and legal use of those funds."

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.

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