Saving Special Places • Building Better Communities
1000 Friends of Florida Endorses
2024 County Land Conservation Initiatives
1000 Friends of Florida has always been a strong advocate for state and local land conservation programs. Our co-founder, Nathaniel Pryor Reed, played a leading role in establishing the landmark state Preservation 2000 program which, together with its successor Florida Forever, have protected more than 2.6 million acres of precious natural lands across our state.
These state programs have been complemented by county land conservation programs, approved by voters, that authorize governments to raise revenues locally to leverage state dollars, as well as federal and private funds earmarked for conservation. They have been further strengthened by local initiatives to designate land for protection from intensive development.
In the 2022 election cycle, 1000 Friends endorsed proposals to fund five county conservation programs on the November ballot. All five were approved by voters. In the 2020 cycle, we endorsed three, all of which were approved.
1000 Friends is proud to endorse the following county conservation proposals on the November 2024 ballot:
In addition, 1000 Friends proudly endorses local charter amendments on the 2024 ballot in Seminole and Orange counties intended to create or strengthen limits on development in rural areas:
Clay County
The Protect Clay County ballot measure would authorize Clay County to issue general obligation bonds worth up to $45 million to establish a local land conservation program. Whenever possible, these locally raised funds would be combined with matching state, federal and private funds to purchase and manage environmentally sensitive land from willing sellers that is at risk of development, or to buy development rights from willing sellers for working farms and forests or other land, which would remain on the tax rolls in private ownership and management. Both approaches respect landowners and property rights.
If at least 50% of Clay voters approve the ballot measure, the bonds would be retired through an additional property tax of a maximum of 0.2 mills, or 20 cents per every $1,000 in property value. At this rate, the owner of a typical home in Clay County would pay $33 more a year for the 20-year life of the bonds, or $2.75 more a month. A citizen oversight committee for the program would be created, all expenditures would be publicly disclosed, and annual audits would be conducted to ensure a transparent and accountable process.
While Florida is growing fast, Clay County is growing even faster. Between July of 2020 and 2023, Clay grew by 13,488 residents, or 6.2%, compared to 4.7% in the state as a whole. This population increase raises development pressure in Clay. We urge Clay County voters to make a smart, timely investment in their water quality, wildlife habitat, and working forests and farms by voting YES FOR BONDS on their November 5th ballot.
Martin County
If approved by voters, this ballot measure — Martin County Forever — would add a half-penny to the sales tax in the county for 10 years, with the proceeds used to permanently protect vulnerable natural lands which might otherwise be lost forever to development. This additional tax would not apply to groceries, prescription medications or school supplies, or to the portion of any purchases over $5,000. The sales tax increase from the current 6.5 cents to 7 cents a dollar could raise $18.3 million a year, or $183 million over the 10-year term of the tax. More than a third of the total (37.5%) would be paid by people who don’t live in Martin County.
Funds would be available to purchase lands outright from willing sellers to protect them from development, or to buy permanent conservation easements to help sustain working farms, which would remain on the tax rolls in private ownership and management. Both options respect landowners and property rights.
The dollars raised locally could leverage matching funds from federal, state and private land conservation programs, maximizing investments in land conservation. Those investments would be targeted to four high-priority areas for conservation totaling almost 46,000 acres in the county: Blueways, Indian River Lagoon South, Loxahatchee and St. Lucie Headwaters, and Pal-Mar. Land purchased or protected would be under county control, insulating it from state initiatives like the one that would have turned environmentally sensitive property in Jonathan Dickinson State Park into golf courses.
Lake County
This ballot measure would authorize Lake County to issue general obligation bonds worth up to $50 million to renew the county’s land conservation program. These funds would be used to purchase land from willing sellers to be protected from development, or to buy development rights on working farms and forests or other land that would remain on the tax rolls in private ownership and management. Both approaches respect landowners and property rights.
With voter approval of the ballot measure, the bonds would be retired through existing property taxes. The average property owner would pay $21 a year, or just $1.75 a month. The dollars raised locally could leverage matching funds from federal, state and private land conservation programs, maximizing investments in land conservation and expanding the county’s network of parks and trails. A citizen oversight committee for the program would be created, all expenditures would be publicly disclosed, and annual audits would be conducted to ensure an open and accountable process.
Funding for the county’s land conservation program was last approved by 71% of voters in 2004. The funds authorized under that previous approval were used to acquire Green Mountain Scenic Overlook and Ferndale Preserve, among other prized properties. Approval of the measure on the November ballot would replenish funding for the program and maintain its property tax support. It would not raise taxes.
Lake County is under increasing development pressure from growth spreading west from Orlando as well as rapidly growing areas within the county. The county’s population has increased by 87,000 residents, or 28%, just since 2010. Its high quality of life is threatened by the loss of natural areas and their valuable benefits for water quality, wildlife and recreation. With real estate prices escalating, it’s urgent for county voters to renew funding for conservation land acquisition, before more critical natural areas are lost forever to development. Voting YES FOR BONDS on their November 5th ballot is a great way to protect their environment, economy and quality of life for generations to come.
Orange County
The amendment reflects successful policies from other Florida counties, such as Seminole County, which have implemented similar protections for agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands. By directing growth towards urban areas with established public services, the amendment helps prevent urban sprawl, reduces infrastructure costs, and preserves the ecological and economic benefits of rural lands. With this approach, Orange County could accommodate its projected population growth while saving tens of thousands of acres of natural and agricultural land.
Osceola County
The Save and Value Environment (SAVE) land conservation proposal on Osceola County’s November 5th ballot would authorize Osceola County to issue general obligation bonds worth up to $70 million to renew funding for its Environmental Lands Conservation Program. Whenever possible, these locally raised funds would be combined with matching state, federal and private funds to acquire and manage ecologically important lands purchased from willing sellers.
If at least 50% of Osceola voters approve the ballot measure, the bonds would be retired through an existing property tax levy of 0.25 mills, or 25 cents per every $1,000 in property value. Taxes would not be increased. The owner of a house assessed at $400,000 would continue paying $100 a year, or $8.33 a month, to finance the ongoing purchase and protection of ecologically important lands. All spending in the program would be fully and publicly disclosed.
Last authorized by a resounding two-thirds of County voters in 2004, SAVE has acquired more than 3,300 acres in the County to protect water resources, preserve wildlife habitats, provide public green spaces and support passive, resource-based recreation. Environmental conservation areas in Osceola County acquired through SAVE include the Camp Lonesome Conservation Area, Cherokee Point Conservation Area, Lake Lizzie Conservation Area, Lake Runnymeade Conservation Area, Shingle Creek Regional Park, Brownie Wise Park and Twin Oaks Conservation Area. But funding for the program is set to expire next year.
We urge general election voters in the County to vote YES FOR BONDS to fund the acquisition and management of land to protect local water quality, wildlife habitat, and outdoor recreation.
Seminole County
The two proposed amendments to the Seminole County Charter would strengthen protections for rural and natural lands. One amendment requires a super-majority vote—four out of five Commissioners—to remove property from the County’s Rural Boundary, which has been a key tool for limiting urban development since its establishment in 1991. The other amendment mandates the same super-majority vote for any sale, swap, or material change to county-owned natural lands, ensuring that such lands cannot be developed or altered without significant support from the County Commission.
These changes would enhance existing protections, which currently only require a simple majority for decisions impacting these areas, making it more difficult to approve development that threatens Seminole’s rural and natural landscapes. By enshrining these protections in the County Charter, the amendments would help preserve the region’s environmental and recreational resources, while encouraging future development in more appropriate urban areas with established infrastructure. 1000 Friends of Florida urges general election voters in Seminole County to strengthen protections for rural and natural lands in the County by voting for these two proposed amendments to the County Charter on their November 5th ballot.
Participate
Accountability
Newsletters
Annual Reports
Special Reports
