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County paves way to ask voters about $100 million land-conservation bond
Summary
Trust for Public Land and Live Wildly Foundation briefed the Board on a voter-funded land-acquisition bond (example $100 million) designed to protect farms, drinking-watersheds and wildlife habitat; the board agreed to draft ballot language and evaluate timing for a November or 2028 referendum.
Representatives from the Live Wildly Foundation and Trust for Public Land asked the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday to consider asking voters to authorize dedicated funding for land conservation.
Meredith Bud of Live Wildly and a presenter from Trust for Public Land outlined a plan that would let voters approve general-obligation bonds — the speaker cited $100 million as an example — to buy or protect land for water quality, wildlife habitat, coastal areas, and working farms. Trust for Public Land said ballot language they tested in other Florida counties included an annual cap expressed as a maximum millage rate (they tested 0.15 mills in polling) and called for citizen oversight, audits and public disclosure.
The presenters said polling and feasibility work showed broad, bipartisan support in comparable communities and stressed the need for a dedicated local funding source to match state and federal programs and to move quickly on priority parcels. They described options including a bond pledged to ad valorem taxes or a narrower sales-tax measure; bond language in a local example would pledge repayment from property taxes up to a specified millage rate and include a 10–20 year levy window.
Commissioners asked about timing and how a possible state constitutional amendment on property tax rules could affect local revenue. Staff and outside presenters recommended including a millage cap in ballot language so voters know the maximum impact and suggested using existing local advisory processes (the county's LAMP board) to prioritize acquisitions. The presenters said campaigns would be privately funded and run by local coalitions and that county staff must avoid using government resources to promote any ballot initiative.
After public comment from conservation advocates and land-acquisition board members urging action, the commission gave consensus direction for staff to draft ballot language and prepare options for an August vote if the board wants the item on a November 2026 ballot; commissioners also discussed pushing to 2028 to allow more time for outreach or to pursue alternative funding such as a sales tax.
Next steps: staff will return with draft ballot language and fiscal estimates; the board did not adopt any funding measure Tuesday but agreed to move the drafting process forward.
