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Board moves $1.5M from Tree Bank Fund to LAMP for conservation land acquisition
Summary
The county approved a one‑time transfer of $1.5 million from the Tree Bank Fund to the Land Acquisition and Management Program (LAMP) to restore conservation acquisition capacity; the board debated using general reserves but voted to use the Tree Bank reserve (3–1).
St. Johns County approved a one‑time $1.5 million transfer from the Tree Bank Fund into the Land Acquisition and Management Program (LAMP) to accelerate conservation land acquisition this fiscal year.
Staff explained the Tree Bank Fund, which collects payments and fines when protected tree inches are not replanted, explicitly authorizes acquisition for conservation or mitigation purposes under the county land development code. The Tree Bank reserve balance cited by staff was approximately $2.3 million for FY26.
Commissioner Anne Taylor argued pulling money from general fund reserves would avoid constraints tied to the tree fund; Commissioner Christian Whitehurst countered that the Tree Bank fund’s purpose aligns with conservation and that shifting general reserves would reduce emergency funding. After discussion the board approved the transfer 3–1.
Staff said the transfer is a one‑time action to elevate LAMP’s purchasing power toward prioritized conservation parcels; acquisitions will continue to require environmental evaluation and public benefit justification. The board asked staff to return with candidate properties and acquisition strategy.
