Photo credit: respres @ Flickr.com

Reporter Michael Van Sickler of the Times takes a look at the reasons for the area's high foreclosure rate in this article and explains that it isn't just the banks approving risky loans and homeowners living beyond their means that are to blame. He notes that flippers and investors along with the help of local government may have contributed even more to our local housing bust.

The truth is that real estate speculators and revenue-hungry local governments bear just as much of the responsibility — and maybe more — for the collapse in the housing market.

And he switched yet another light on some of the expensive sprawl approval practices in Hillsborough County including approving huge subdivisions in rural areas along with waiving impact fees for developers.The numbers he offered are not pretty. He noted that 50,000 homes are still waiting to be built and he cites a 2006 county report that says waiving impact fees could cost the county 92 million. Recall my recent post showing that even when they do charge impact fees they don't come close to covering costs and every new rooftop puts the county in the hole $11,000 with impact fees! But the fees were waived and the sprawl was still approved under the guise of increasing a tax base! Instead they created a shortfall of billions in roads alone.

Now our current officials think it would be a good idea if we increase our sales tax by 14% to pay for their past mistakes? That pig is still waiting for take off clearance kids.

Van Sickler also notes the relationship that the politicians voting to approve sprawl had with the late Republican power broker, Ralph Hughes:

Commissioners weren't making their decisions in a vacuum. Powerful landowners and campaign contributors were pushing them to waive the fees. One was Ralph Hughes, a longtime Republican power broker.

Before he died last year, Hughes made himself rich selling building materials to developers. Among his customers: two of the large subdivisions that had their fees eliminated by commissioners.

Recall Hughes was a pardoned ex-felon that the majority of Commissioners later renamed the Moral Courage award after bringing Hillsborough local and then national shame. The Hughes name was recently removed from the award.

The Times article also named names of the past and even some current politicians responsible for approving that sprawl and many of them want your vote again for other positions. They include former County Commissioner now State Senator Ronda I hate gays Storms –R, County Commissioner Jim I hate gays more than Ronda but I love sprawl Norman –R (who is running for State Senate), former Mayor and possible candidate for Mayor again (and again) Dick Greco -D, as well as former County Commissioner, current City Councilman and now candidate for Mayor Tom Scott -D ( FYI – I did a quick search on the Hillsborough Supervisor of Elections site and found that Hughes had contributed to Storms, Norman and Scott)