State Funding for Conservation Lands

State Funding for Conservation Lands A proposed resolution by Volusia County Council Presentation Outline Background Draft Resolution Board Consideration

Background State Conservation Land Funding Programs Prior to 1963 no specific program existed 1963 - Land Acquisition Trust Fund Funded the Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Program Designed to purchase parks and recreation areas Tax on outdoor clothing and equipment Later changed to sale of recreation bonds ($20M) Paid for by doc stamps

Blue Spring State Park, Tomoka State Park, and Hontoon Island State Park all paid through this program Background State Conservation Land Funding Programs Prior to 1963 no specific program existed 1963 - Land Acquisition Trust Fund 1972 - Environmentally Endangered Lands Program Ballot referendum authorizing the sale of $240M in bonds Designed for unique and irreplaceable lands

Paid for by doc stamps Tiger Bay State Forest established under this program Background State Conservation Land Funding Programs Prior to 1963 no specific program existed 1963 - Land Acquisition Trust Fund 1972 - Environmentally Endangered Lands 1979 - Conservation and Recreation Lands Program Recurring revenue stream (instead of bond revenues)

Excise tax on mineral extraction later added doc stamps Protected 181,000 acres at a cost of $356M Additions to Tomoka State Park, Blue Spring State Park, plus DeLeon Springs State Recreation Area were bought under this program Background State Conservation Land Funding Programs Prior to 1963 no specific program existed 1963 - Land Acquisition Trust Fund 1972 - Environmentally Endangered Lands

1979 - Conservation and Recreation Lands 1990 - Preservation 2000 10 year plan $300M annual budget Protected 1.8M acres Spruce Creek Preserve Established Background State Conservation Land Funding Programs Prior to 1963 no specific program existed 1963 - Land Acquisition Trust Fund

1972 - Environmentally Endangered Lands 1979 - Conservation and Recreation Lands 1990 - Preservation 2000 2000 - Florida Forever (current program) Funded through doc stamps $300M annual budget Over 718,000 acres protected Volusia Conservation Corridor Background

Florida Forever Funding history $300M from 2001 to 2009 Great Recession State Funding reduced Background Volusia Endangered Lands Programapproved 1986 Volusia Forever.approved 2000

Background Constitutional Amendment 1 2014 Ballot Initiative Title: Water and Land Conservation Dedicates funds to acquire and restore Florida conservation and recreation lands Allocates 33% of net revenues from doc stamps 20 year period Overwhelmingly approved by voters 75%

Background Constitutional Amendment Limits funds to: acquisition and improvement of land, water areas, and related property interests; wildlife management areas; lands that protect water resources and drinking water sources; lands in the Everglades; beaches and shores; outdoor

recreation lands, including recreational trails, parks, and urban open space; rural landscapes; working farms. Protection of Springs Restoration of natural systems such as Indian River Lagoon Background Court Challenge 2015 appropriations bill approved less than $20M for Florida Forever 2 lawsuits filed

House and Senate Regulatory Agencies Alleging misspending of $300M in funds Both suits recently combined No decision likely in short term Background Funding Challenge 2017-18 LATF estimate $814M

$646M after debt service payment $438M after Everglades, springs and Lake Apopka payments $105M after agency operations and land management costs $20M after leadership priorities currently proposed for bills Likely shortfall for other conservation priorities Governors Budget only provides $15 million for Florida Forever Presentation Outline

Background Draft Resolution Board Consideration Draft Resolution Proposed Resolution Significant increase in funding for 2017-2018 budget For fee acquisition and conservation easements Regional benefits Blue springs

Volusia Conservation Corridor Indian River Lagoon Council Consideration Proposed Resolution supporting full funding of Florida Forever together with restoration of Springs and Indian River Lagoon. Review by County Manager and Attorney Place on agenda for future Council meeting for

comment Vote for approval and transmit to legislature State Funding for Conservation Lands A proposed resolution by Volusia County Council