Officials at Florida Polytechnic are asking for millions of dollars in state funds, but one state legislator is not happy about it.
Set to open in 2014, construction is underway on the first campus building. Don Wilson, who serves on the Board of Trustees, is excited.
"I think that building will be iconic for education in Florida," said Wilson.
The school has struggled for support since splitting from the University of South Florida to become Florida's 12th university. Now it needs millions of dollars to complete the first stages.
The signs are already up and the streets are paved, but the $25-million roadblock stands in front of the University's future.
The push for more money has State Representative Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, fed up.
"My colleagues and the governor created a 12th university that no one wanted," Fasano said.
Wilson says the money is needed to give the future students a true campus environment.
"That there's lighting and landscaping, the amenities that are required to let it appear to be used as a campus," Wilson said.
Fasano disagrees.
"This is not what we were told," he said.
Fasano said he believes the request is the start of a slippery slope for Florida taxpayers.
"I guess the question should be is, what's it going to cost the taxpayers next year and the year after that and the year after that.," he said.
At a time when state universities are facing budget cuts, Wilson knows Florida Polytechnic has an uphill battle but he's optimistic even if they don't get all of the money they are asking for.
"Not getting the $25 million, maybe we won't have the school that we want to have at that time but we'll still open when we think the time is right," he said.
Officials want to open the school by fall 2014 but without all of the plans in place Wilson admits it's a lofty goal. He says the school is still determining what programs to put in place and which degrees will be made available.
Once those decisions are made officials will have a better idea of long-term costs.