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Florida's Department of Community Affairs in peril

The Miami Herald

April 16, 2010

When it comes to the laws and enforcement of growth management, the Florida Legislature excels at playing games. Last year, in the name of fostering jobs, lawmakers adopted a bill allowing builders of large developments to evade paying for the road improvements these projects inevitably require. Now, local taxpayers must foot the bill.

This piece of irresponsible sophistry did not improve Florida's economy. The construction industry is still in the doldrums.

This year, the Department of Community Affairs, final enforcer of growth-management laws, is up for the sunset review process that state agencies undergo every 10 years. The Senate is set to reenact the DCA, meaning its budget and programs will be reinstated without change. That's the right course for the agency that stands between more sprawl and sustainable growth.

Over in the House, though, the game is on. House leaders are sitting on the reenactment bill, not allowing it on the agenda of the Economic Development and Community Affairs Council. Friday is the last chance for the bill to be heard. If it isn't, the DCA will spend the next year in limbo, which would weaken it against powerful construction interests.

Apparently, the delaying tactic in the House is because the incoming 2011 House leadership wants to gut the agency.

The House games could very easily backfire. Delaying reenactment would strengthen the resolve of backers of Amendment 4 -- the Hometown Democracy amendment to the state Constitution on the November ballot. It would require changes to each community's comprehensive plan -- which governs local development -- to be approved by local voters. Most lawmakers hate the amendment, as do builders.

But Amendment 4 would never have gotten enough signatures to get on the ballot if Floridians weren't fed up with sprawl and the crowded schools and roads it brings.

The House leadership should rethink its strategy and schedule DCA reenactment for a vote Friday -- or it could very well rue its gamesmanship come November.

Published in: The ponzi state on Friday 16th of April 2010