Finding Money for Florida Sugar Deal

Buying U.S. Sugar’s land is more important to Everglades restoration than lesser projects under way, writes the Palm Beach Post. The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board must scrutinize the agency’s budget and determine what to sacrifice to deliver the greater long-term benefit.

Board Chairman Eric Buermann understands this, despite withering criticism from opponents of the deal, particularly U.S. Sugar’s rival — Florida Crystals. The critics cited a new list of projects the district could cancel or delay so the budget can absorb the deal’s estimated $46 million annual debt service. Making the list, though, doesn’t mean that the most popular projects would be cut. The governing board must decide in the next few months where the U.S. Sugar deal ranks.

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