Paid for by Florida Conservation Voters
Florida
STATEWIDE RACES
Florida
STATE HOUSE
Florida
LOCAL ELECTIONS
Jeremy Matlow
TALLAHASSEE CITY COMMISSION, Seat 3
Local
BALLOT MEASURES
SUPPORT
WILD SPACES & PUBLIC PLACES PROGRAM
ALACHUA COUNTY: This measure would renew the popular Wild Spaces & Public Places program, and by conservative estimates would raise $246 million for parks and land conservation over ten years. An additional $246 million would be raised for repair of existing roads, fire stations and public facilities, as well as new affordable housing. This is a one-cent sales tax that would replace the existing half-cent sales tax. Alachua has a long history of passing conservation measures like this. If passed, this would be the County’s fourth successful conservation funding measure over the past 22 years.
SUPPORT
ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED LANDS
BREVARD COUNTY: If passed, this measure would authorize up to $50 million in bonds to extend the county’s Environmentally Endangered Lands program to acquire, improve and maintain wildlife habitat, wetlands, woodlands, and lands protecting the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns River. Funding would also maintain and improve nature education centers.
SUPPORT
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY FOREVER
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY: Following two successful bond measures in 1992 and 2004, Indian River County voters this year will again consider a $50 million bond to continue the county’s highly successful conservation land acquisition program. Funds would be used to preserve environmentally significant lands to restore the Indian River Lagoon, protect water resources, natural areas, wildlife habitat, and drinking water sources.
SUPPORT
MIAMI LAKES OPTIMIST PARK BOND
MIAMI LAKES: The Miami Lakes’ Town Council referred a $19.5 million bond to the ballot to renovate the 50-year old Optimist Park. Located in one of Florida’s early planned communities, Optimist Park serves not only this racially and culturally diverse town of 30,467, but also the regional Miami Lakes Middle School, a Title 1 school with a substantial number of disadvantaged students. If approved, the funding would be used to improve the park’s athletic fields, trails, exercise stations, basketball courts, tennis and pickleball courts, restrooms, lighting, and parking facilities.
SUPPORT
PROTECT NASSAU NOW OR NEVER
NASSAU COUNTY: This measure would authorize a $30 million bond to establish a new county land conservation program to acquire lands that improve water quality and protect drinking water sources. The measure would also fund preservation of natural areas and beaches, as well as three regionally significant rivers: the St. Mary’s, Nassau and Amelia Rivers. Conservation of these lands will reduce flooding, conserve wildlife habitat, and enhance outdoor recreation. The county has already received 750 proposals for places residents would like to see conserved.
SUPPORT
POLK FOREVER
POLK COUNTY: If passed, the Polk Forever measure would restart a small property tax to generate revenue for purchasing and preserving land for conservation next. The property tax initially ran from 1995 until 2015, and provided Polk County with more than $80 million it used for preserving treasured conservation areas. The measure would also fund historic preservation. If approved by the voters, the measure would generate $200 million over twenty years.