GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. — The full FAQ on this referendum, provided by the county, is attached below.
Clay County voters have a decision to make when it comes to future development.
A land use referendum is on the ballot for Election Day.
This referendum gives voters a say to designate more land for preservation, but it would come at a cost to taxpayers.
“I enjoy the park very much," said Tasley Wheeler while taking a stroll at Camp Chowenwaw. "We do a lot with our local business as far as bringing groups in for dog walks, so I wanted to show my mom from out of town and my boyfriend the park.”
When Wheeler set out to show her mom the sites of Clay County, she made sure to circle Camp Chowenwaw and the natural view of Black Creek.
Clay County leaders want to make sure views like it across the county are preserved, which is why voters will notice a land use referendum at the bottom of their ballots.
“I think it’s a great asset to have heritage land like this preserved in Clay County," said Wheeler.
Of course, land isn’t free, which is why Clay County leaders are asking taxpayers to help foot the bill.
According to the Trust for Public Land, the ballot measure to generate $45 million would cost the average taxpayer an extra $33 a year, or just under $3 per month in their property taxes.
“I absolutely love the concept with the criteria of hopefully that a lot of the taxpayers get a real say in how it’s used and what we can preserve," said Wheeler.
The Trust for Public Land reports Clay County lags behind the state average of 32% of land being preserved, and they’d need to protect another 115,000 acres to close the gap.
Twenty-five other Florida counties have land conservation programs, including nearby Nassau County.
The referendum would create a civilian committee in charge of determining what land is purchased for preservation.
“We do have a lot of small town folks around here who enjoy watching development and those pieces come together while still maintaining a small town feel, so I think lots of people would be interested in that, myself included," said Wheeler.
The referendum needs a 50% plus one vote to be approved. A yes vote means you want the county to raise the millage rate to set money aside to preserve land, a no vote means you don’t.
If approved, the Trust for Public Land says the county will pursue matching grants from state and federal agencies.