ROOM IN OUR PRISONS, NOT OUR COLLEGES

In the Florida Legislature's zeal to maintain its image as a law-and-
order bunch, they have sent an unnerving message of skewed priorities
to the public.

With little discussion, lawmakers last week approved an emergency
infusion of cash to the state Department of Corrections for
construction of new prison beds and the hiring of 500 guards and other
employees. The $66 million 11th-hour fiscal bailout came after DOC
Secretary Jim Crosby and Gov. Jeb Bush said the agency had, during
budget proposals just two months ago, underestimated its inmate intake
for the coming year by some 3,000 inmates. Without the extra money,
Crosby and Bush warned, some Florida prisoners would be released early.

We could speculate all day long about why the number of inmates going
through our prisons' doors is up 13 percent at a time when both
Florida's overall crime rate and violent crime rate are the lowest
they have been in decades.

What we don't have to speculate about, though, is that while lawmakers
are fast and furious to approve new allocations for locking up
criminals of all stripes, they are far less generous when it comes to
ensuring our youngsters have adequate educational opportunities in our
great state.

Consider that while lawmakers were dipping in to the state's rainy day
fund to build prison cells, the state's 11 university presidents were
meeting in Orlando trying to figure out how they will handle the
growing number of college students statewide. For a time, the
presidents discussed possible enrollment caps -- meaning students
might not be enrolled, not because they weren't qualified, but because
there isn't enough money to hire instructors and provide classroom
space.

The State University System is already operating from a budget hole,
considering the Legislature this year provided only enough funding for
159,000 students when there are actually 169,000. And that funding
shortfall comes after most the universities increased tuition 7
percent and cut innumerable nonessential courses and services.

We're not saying Florida's criminals shouldn't be locked up. But the
Legislature's priorities are out of kilter when adequate funding to
build enough classrooms and hire enough instructors for our
universities is repeatedly put on the back burner while increased
funding to build new prison cells and hire more prison guards takes
just one threat of an early release.

Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd told the university presidents to
quit complaining and find ways to cut back.

"If you believe that quality is only how many dollars you give to any
program, then I think you're missing the whole point," he said. "The
point is you have to examine what it is you want, what outcome you
want."

Maybe Byrd should share those same thoughts with his fellow lawmakers,
not to mention Crosby and the DOC hierarchy.

As for us, we know the outcome we want, and rest assured it has much
more to do with a quality university system than a quality penal system.