During the Sept. 16 meeting, the Commissioners approved a new land-ranking system for 20/20 purchases. The new two-tiered acquisition priority matrix identifies properties with greatest environmental importance and evaluation score, ranking parcels as:
- Tier I: High-quality new nominations will be considered for placement in Tier I as they are received and approved as such by the CLASAC Board.
- Tier II: As acquisitions for Tier I nominations close or come to an impasse, Tier II parcels and new nominations will be considered depending upon their environmental importance, score values, and available funding.
The priority system was developed by staff and approved by CLASAC because of a lack of funding in the Conservation 20/20 program. Despite overwhelming voter support in past referendums, the program fund is $19 million (compared to the $47 million in purchases recommended by CLASAC).
This voter-approved program is supported through the county’s general fund and currently at risk because it has not been fully funded as required. According to the enacting ordinance, Lee County is required “to maintain a fund balance of not more than $100 million and not less than $40 million. Once the fund balance drops below this amount, the County will replenish the fund.”
However, there’s a loophole: The ordinance does not specify a time period when the fund is required to be replenished, giving the Commission leeway to not replenish the Conservation 20/20 fund.
In addition to the recreational opportunities and benefits to native plants and wildlife that Conservation 20/20 preserves provide, these lands typically perform important ecological functions that improve water quality (or at least stop it from degrading further) and reduce flood risks — critically important functions for places like Pine Island — surrounded by impaired waters and affected by storm surge flooding during the last three major hurricanes.
We urge you to encourage the Lee County Commission to replenish the 20/20 Conservation Fund! |
