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Friday's Daily Pulse
What you need to know about Florida today.
› Agency reaches deal to buy Mad Hatter Utilities in Pasco
A multicounty government agency that purchases private water companies has reached a tentative agreement to buy out Mad Hatter Utility, which has served portions of Land O'Lakes for more than 35 years. The Florida Governmental Utility Authority had been in talks off and on with the company for nearly three years. But a request last fall for dramatically higher water rates sped up negotiations. Under the agreement, FGUA would pay Mad Hatter $9 million, along with another $5 million in 2024.
› Gov. Rick Scott must decide future of pensions bill
On the last day of the 2012 session, state lawmakers voted to reduce contributions to the retirement accounts of 100,000 public employees, many of whom work in higher education or law enforcement. The bill (HB 5005) passed both chambers by wide margins with little discussion and will soon reach Gov. Rick Scott, who said he has not decided whether to sign it. The legislation reduces government contributions to employees enrolled in an investment plan, known as a defined contribution plan, as opposed to the traditional pension plan for public employees.
› College of Central Florida accreditation team working hard
This week, a seven-member team from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools was in Ocala looking at the College of Central Florida, reviewing bachelor degree programs for accreditation. Marsal P. Stoll, a SACS vice president from the Atlanta area, said the two-day review of CF's programs went very well. No major violations or problems were found.
Labeling CF's review "excellent," Stoll said, "This institution has worked very hard to get to this point." Next step is the Commission On Colleges will evaluate CF in December.
