The decision by the Sanford family to camp out, so to speak, in the pool house attached to the Governor's Mansion made headlines.

While the temporary living arrangements of Gov. Mark Sanford and his family doubtless will continue to get plenty of press, the prime topic of mold-in-the-mansion conversation should be the length of time it took to get the problem addressed and who is responsible for paying the bills.

The governor's office has left no doubt about the extent of first lady Jenny Sanford's distress over the handling of the mold problem. She is said to have reported her concerns nearly a year ago to the staff of the Budget and Control Board, which oversees state properties.

The fact that the mold became so invasive before it got serious attention has been described by Mrs. Sanford as "negligent, at best." The placement of dehumidifiers in closets, for example, clearly was an inadequate response.

The question remains: Who is accountable for this mess? It certainly provides new ammunition for advocates of government restructuring, who argue that the entire administrative arm of the government should answer directly to the governor.

Surely the board will make every effort to ensure that after spending more than $6 million to renovate the mansion, the state won't have to bear the cost for what clearly was a serious and expensive mistake.