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Crist Should Gobble This Turkey In Pasco

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 12, 2008

State Sen. Mike Fasano's heart was in the right place when he secured $10 million to help Pasco County Schools pay for transportation improvements that will be needed for new schools. Still, it's bad state policy.

Pasco government and school officials are in a standoff over who should pay to widenand build roads needed for new schools. The county has bullied school officials into funding off-site transportation improvements that the county should reasonably cover. The dispute has created a major rift in the inter-local agreement that ties approval of new housing developments to available school capacity.

Solving the problem with state funds isn't the answer. The precedent would encourage other communities to seek state handouts to solve local disputes and, as in the Pasco standoff, deter local governments from resolving disputes together.

Besides, what happens when the money's gone?

A better solution is to make clear who is responsible for funding off-site road improvements needed to accommodate new schools. The law is ambiguous, leaving governments guessing - and feuding. Hillsborough school officials even sued the county over the issue. So far, the Pasco board has resisted that urge.

The funding secured by Fasano may not be a full-fledged turkey, but it has enough feathers to be plucked.

Gov. Charlie Crist should veto this item.

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