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Florida supreme court to hear u.s. sugar case

Feb. 10, 2010

U.S. Sugar deal heads to Florida high court

The Florida Supreme Court has agreed to hear a challenge to the state’s plans to finance the $536 million purchase of U.S. Sugar land with bonds issued by the South Florida Water Management District. The hearing date is April 7, which may force the parties to extend the current March 31 deadline to get court approval for the financing plan.

The Miccosukee Tribe and U.S. Sugar rival Florida Crystals Corp. filed the lawsuit challenging the financing for the state’s purchase of 73,000 acres of sugar fields and citrus groves, a deal first proposed in June 2008.

They argue the land deal is a waste of taxpayers’ money and that financially strapped Florida doesn't have money to build Everglades restoration projects on the land. They also contend the purchase would stall already overdue Everglades project elsewhere.

Last  August, a Palm Beach County circuit judge approved the deal, but stopped short of extending the credit lines as high as the district sought. Environmental groups and other supporters call the deal a historic opportunity to acquire strategically located land to build reservoirs and stormwater treatment areas and to help restore the natural southern flow of water from Lake Okeechobee.

Sources: Miami Herald, SunSentinel.com

 

think about this...

"We must build a peace in South Florida - a peace between the people and their place, between the natural environment and man-made settlement, between the works of man and the life of mankind itself. "
~ Florida Gov. Reubin Askew ~