Tonight's meeting of a city/county transportation task force promises to be both entertaining and — possibly — politically bloody.

You see, the city of Bakersfield and the county of Kern don't agree on how to deal with billions in freeway funding shortfalls.

And when I say "don't agree" I'm being polite.

The city believes the proper solution to the problem is to figure out how to raise more money. Suggestions that projects be scaled back or re-planned to fit into the current financing have been met with a polite but icy distain by city manager Alan Tandy and the Bakersfield City Council.

The county thinks the city is being  optimistic about its ability to quickly fund and build a crosstown freeway through the middle of town, widening projects around town and loop freeways north and west and south of the city. County leaders want to talk plan changes and project priorities and expressways rather than freeways. Or, instead, the city and county could slow the pace of development until freeway building catches up.

Tonight's meeting of two county supervisors and three  city councilmembers should be enlightening.

James Burger