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Jasper County adopts Green Belt program funded by transportation sales tax; conservation groups urge early spending and bonding
Summary
By voice vote the county council adopted a Green Belt ordinance implementing the 2024 transportation sales tax allocation. Conservation groups told council the program should use easements and fee simple purchases and consider bonding to act quickly on high-priority properties.
Jasper County on March 16 adopted an ordinance establishing a Green Belt program that will use 20% of the county’s transportation sales-tax proceeds for land protection and conservation programs.
County staff said the ordinance sets up an advisory committee, a ‘green belt bank’ (a separate accounting construct), a competitive application process, and the ability to hire third-party expertise to create scoring criteria and manage due diligence. Staff also noted existing bonding authority: the county has board approval to issue up to $150 million in bonds…
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