Florida water authority gives itself more time to finish controversial Everglades land deal
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Facing legal challenges and growing deficits, South Florida water officials on Thursday gave themselves six more months to finance a controversial $536 million purchase of land from United States Sugar for the Everglades.
The unanimous vote by the nine-member board of the South Florida Water Management District will keep the deal alive, but officials said they continued to struggle with whether the agency could afford it.
“From an economic point of view, these are unpleasant times,” said Charles Dauray, a board member from southwest Florida. “And from an environmental point of view, these are very unique opportunities.”