You can argue that Hillsborough County's most pressing need is a major upgrade for its transportation system, and you wouldn't be wrong.
You also would be correct if you said no, no, no - the county simply must invest whatever it takes to help its over-stressed school system keep up with demands on its buildings and staff.
But, as we know, both of those needs require billions of dollars to adequately address, and there thus far has been no political will to make that investment. County commissioners wouldn't even allow citizens to vote on a sales tax hike that would have gone for transportation, and the Legislature uses the budget for public education as a chew toy.
What to do?
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Well, transportation advocates - with a big endorsement by Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and civic treasure Frank Morsani - are doing an end run with a petition drive to let voters decide if they want to hike the county's sales tax by a penny on the dollar.
That's great, except the school board has been exploring the same idea and, well, now what?
Getting one tax increase passed is a gargantuan task.
But then asking for another one after that?
We already know how well that would go over.
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Cindy Stuart has a unique perspective on this matter. She sits on both the Hillsborough School Board and the Metropolitan Planning Organization that deals with long-range transportation issues.
She will be the first to acknowledge the dire need in both areas, but she also understands that if a transportation tax is successful, schools will have to come up with another way to pay for what they need.
And what do they need?
You name it, the eight-largest school district in the county needs it.
"We have a $1 billion backlog in capital maintenance," Stuart said. "And there is no money. I don't want to turn this into something political that pits one side against the other, because we have to have great schools and we have to have a much better transportation system.
"We're not opposed to funding transportation, but we have to address the financial needs in the school system."
Growth is fueling this crisis - and that's what it is, a crisis.
In south Hillsborough, for instance, officials are getting ready to break ground on a new $77 million high school building to alleviate over-stuffed conditions at surrounding schools brought on by the explosive growth in that part of the county.
Why should a school building cost $77 million?
You can thank the Legislature for that. High schools are required to have gymnasiums, athletic facilities, and in some cases meet the building codes to serve as evacuation centers if a hurricane comes. We found out how important that was last September when Hurricane Irma swept through the area.
But, an adequate transportation system that could make it easier for more than 3 million residents to evacuate the area if a monster storm approaches is vital, too.
"They both matter," Stuart said. "We need both."
Schools will be starting up next month, and if the past is prologue we can soon expect to hear of failing air-conditioning systems in classrooms throughout the district.
It happens every year, and replacing those units is incredibly expensive - especially in older buildings which would require upgrades to meet building codes.
Just spit-balling here, but I think the best hope for getting something done that addresses both major needs would be for school officials and transportation advocates to work together.
There still would be ferocious opposition to any tax increase from the usual suspects whose knee-jerk reaction is to oppose anything like this, but the odds of success would improve if the whole package could be presented as a critical community need.
Because, well, it is.
We need better a transportation system, and something must be done to help the schools.
It can't be one or the other.