In Florida, local governments are authorized to issue debt for capital improvement purposes including conservation land, parks, and open space in the form of general obligation bonds.  Beginning in 2018, the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners requested staff to start researching the creation of a Countywide conservation land acquisition and management program.  In Summer 2018, County staff researched multiple Florida county conservation land programs and presented findings to the Board of County Commissioners.

In the Fall of 2018 County staff convened a Technical Advisory Group consisting of land conservation professionals and associated fields to aid in identifying best practices and steps to move forward with a conservation land acquisition and management program.

In February 2019, the Board of County Commissioners entered into an agreement with the Trust for Public Land to conduct a financial feasibility analysis to consider funding options for a conservation land acquisition and management program.  The completed Financial Feasibility report was shared with the Board of County Commissioners in August 2019 and the Commissioners scheduled a workshop on October 16, 2019 with Trust for Public Land representation present.

On January 25, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the Nassau County Conservation Lands Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program and on May 24, 2021, the Board of County Commissioners established the CLAM Committee.  At a meeting held on April 21, 2022, the CLAM Committee recommended to accept the ballot language and that the Board of County Commissioners direct the Supervisor of Elections to place the referendum on the November 2022 ballot.

Ballot language discussed on April 21, 2022 asks voters to consider allowing Nassau County to issue up to $30 million in general obligation bonds, not exceeding lawful interest rates, payable from ad valorem taxes and not to exceed 30 years for a conservation land acquisition and management program.  The proposed conservation land acquisition and management program would be subject to citizen oversight and full public disclosure of all bond spending

Consider a Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Nassau County, Florida, approving placement of a referendum on the ballot for the November 2022 election for the electors within Nassau County to vote on the authorization of the county to issue up to $30 million in general obligation bonds for a Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Program.

Consider a Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Nassau County, Florida, approving placement of a referendum on the ballot for the November 2022 election for the electors within Nassau County to vote on the authorization of the county to issue up to $30 million in general obligation bonds for a Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Program.