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Housing barges into state debate

With more and more families priced out of homes, affordable housing is a key issue as the legislative session begins.

By LETITIA STEIN
Published March 7, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - The price tag on an "affordable" house in Tampa stands at $164,000 and soon should see a major hike. In St. Petersburg, it likely will hit $189,000 this year.

Mobile home parks are closing, and a blazing real estate market sent prices soaring even before eight hurricanes in two seasons spiked building costs.

As the annual Florida legislative session begins here today, the high cost of housing is on the agenda like seldom before.

There are plenty of divisive issues - from FCAT-based teacher bonuses to business-backed changes in civil courts to rising insurance rates. In addition, the local delegation has a wish list that includes money for roads and hurricane preparation.

But everyone's alarmed to see working families priced out of the housing market.

"In Pinellas County, with the way the housing market is today, it's reasonable to say that 85 percent of people in the county could not afford to buy the house they're currently living in," said Herb Polson, St. Petersburg's lobbyist. "I don't want to tell you it's at crisis proportion, but it's getting close."

The debate is about who gets the money raised by a 1992 tax increase on real estate.

Home builders and Realtors teamed up with local governments and advocates for the poor to support a 10-cent tax increase on real estate transactions per $100 in purchase price. The money raised was to be set aside for low and moderate income housing.

But as rising real estate values dramatically drove up the tax's collections, Gov. Jeb Bush and state lawmakers starting eyeing it for other needs.

That should stop, advocates for local governments say. They are pushing for the state to spend up to $637.5-million on affordable housing. Tampa Bay communities would get $64-million more under that scenario.

"If the money is there ... and it's specifically for affordable housing, then spend it," said Elithia Stanfield, lobbyist for Pinellas County. Bush has proposed spending $243-million on state and local affordable housing programs.

"It's kind of humorous, if not sad, that we see all these legislators this session racing to file housing bills to be responsive to their constituents," said Jaimie Ross, affordable housing director at 1000 Friends of Florida and president of the Florida Housing Coalition.

"None of those bills can replace or even come close to (the impact of) full funding for affordable housing. They can't expect to go home a hero for local housing unless they do that."

But Bush and other key Republican lawmakers have sought to have affordable housing compete with other state programs for funding each year. Bush notes that his budget calls for a 26 percent increase in spending for affordable housing over last year.

"We're putting up a lot more money," he said earlier this year.

Whether or not it sees more money, housing is sure to become a buzzword. The Florida dream is getting out of reach not just for the poor, but also for teachers and police officers. So lawmakers are tossing around ideas such as waiving building height requirements to create more housing options and allowing school boards to buy land to build teacher housing.

Mobile home owners are pushing legislation that would make cities and counties assist with relocation costs when parks are rezoned for development.

"Our residents won't be put out on the street," said Don Hazelton of Largo, past president of the Federation of Manufactured Homeowners of Florida Inc.

Congested roads are creating headaches across the region, too.

Before the two-month session ends, St. Petersburg Republican Sen. Jim Sebesta promises an announcement on at least one local road funded through a public-private partnership - an option under review for the East-West Road, a 3-mile connector from New Tampa to Interstate 275. Never before has Florida built a toll road with private financing.

"This is a whole different ballgame," Sebesta said, noting that the $141-million cost wouldn't be a deal-breaker for a private company. "There's no difference here in them building the toll road and somebody announcing they're going to build a new apartment complex."

Preparing for a major hurricane also has regional interest.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is developing a plan to locate emergency shelters in strategic locations around Tampa Bay. Outside of hurricanes, the buildings could serve as community centers.

"If we're going to spend millions of dollars on shelters or special need shelters, let's make sure those facilities can be used for other things during the day," Fasano said.

Tampa Bay has a few big ticket items at stake this spring.

--The University of South Florida hopes to get $26-million to design and fast-track construction of a visual and performing Arts complex at its Tampa campus.

--The Salvador Dali Museum is seeking another $4-million to build a new facility. Last year, Pinellas lawmakers fought for an initial $4-million in funding. They may have to battle again.

--Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio wants $5.5-million to jump-start her Riverwalk project. She hopes the scenic downtown walkway will be her administration's legacy.

With more dollars than usual to go around, these high-profile items could square off with other community funding requests, such as $3.8-million for redevelopment in downtown Tarpon Springs or $1-million to relieve flooding problems in the Duck Slough area of Trinity in Pasco.

--Times staff writers Joni James and Michael Van Sickler contributed to this report. Letitia Stein can be reached at lstein@sptimes.com or 850 224-7263.

[Last modified March 7, 2006, 01:15:09]