The Volusia County Council on Dec. 2 approved two conservation purchases but split over a proposal to pre-authorize bond financing for a larger land‑acquisition program, renewing an argument about what the county should preserve and who should decide for future generations.

Brad (county stewardship staff) told the council the Carter Quail Ranch land‑management agreement covers roughly 1,339 acres purchased under the state’s Florida Forever program and that the county would act as manager of the property acquired by the state. “This is resource‑based recreation,” he said, describing possible uses including limited hunting, trails and an equestrian focus while noting the state must approve uses that conflict with Florida Forever terms.

The council also approved acquisition of the McMillan property, a 213‑acre parcel staff described as the final link in a 7,000‑acre conservation corridor around Lake Ashby and Deep Creek. Brad said the property is mostly upland and prime for development pressure, and that state and federal partners have agreed to help with funding. He described the conservation easement as a tool to protect water resources, floodplains and wildlife corridors.

But the purchases prompted sharp questions over the terms of conservation easements and the program’s future trajectory. Councilman Don Dempsey cautioned against ceding long‑term control: “The word ‘in perpetuity’ scares the bejesus out of me,” he said, arguing the county may be constraining future options for energy or water uses. Assistant County Attorney Sabrina Slack described legal safeguards: under common‑law doctrines such as cy pres, courts can modify perpetuity restrictions in narrow, unforeseeable circumstances.

A separate, more contentious proposal would have authorized a limited‑tax general obligation reimbursement resolution to allow the county to issue bonds for Volusia Forever purchases in the future. Finance staff explained the resolution would not immediately issue debt but would establish an IRS‑recognized “intent to reimburse” so that purchases made with county resources could later be paid from tax‑exempt bond proceeds if the council decides to borrow. Ryan (CFO) said the mechanism gives flexibility and can reduce long‑term interest costs compared with issuing large debt up front.

Nine council members and dozens of residents engaged in a lengthy debate about borrowing, partner funding and scope. Supporters said the county needs the tool to act quickly when high‑value conservation parcels come on the market; opponents urged caution, citing the program’s cost and the possibility of encumbering large tracts of land under partner agreements that limit local authority.

Outcome and next steps: The council approved the two individual purchases as presented. On the bond authorization the council directed staff to return with additional briefing: a detailed list of candidate parcels, the evaluation criteria tied to the original ballot language, partner commitments and the projected debt service schedule. The county will bring those materials back for further council review before any bond issuance.

Why this matters: Volusia Forever is funded by a voter‑approved millage and has become a central county program for protecting water resources, flood storage and open space. Decisions on whether and how to borrow for acquisitions shape what land can be protected, how much it costs and how much control the county retains over future uses.

What’s next: Staff will provide detailed parcel‑level cost estimates, partner funding commitments and a debt‑service forecast for the council to review before any decision to issue bonds.