EcoAction Alert

Please vote “yes” to support an extension of the Wild Spaces and Public Spaces Program.

The Florida Native Plant Society has long recognized that the most effective strategy for conserving our native plants and native plant communities is to conserve the natural areas where they occur! However, the rapid pace of land development in Florida means we locked in an ongoing race against the bulldozers. Voters in Indian River County now have a special opportunity to support land conservation by voting to extend the Wild Spaces and Public Faces program. The extension of this successful program – which to date has protected 39 properties in Indian River County totaling 12,268 acres – will prioritize the protection of additional lands on the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ridge and help protect water resources.

If approved by voters, the ballot measure would authorize the County to issue general obligation bonds, up to a maximum of $50 million, in order to preserve environmentally significant lands, protect waterways and wildlife habitat, and expand opportunities for outdoor recreation. The bonds would be repaid within 20 years using a property tax assessment estimated to be less than 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The owner of a house with an assessed value of $300,000 and a $50,000 homestead exemption would pay about $47 more annually. All spending related to the Program would be disclosed to the public through annual, independent audits.

Additional information about the Program and the ballot measure is available at https://www.ircforever.com/. Please vote “yes” in support of this ballot measure whether you are voting via mail, early voting, or voting on election day – November 8! Early voting in Indian River County runs from October 24-November 5, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Information on early voting locations is available at https://www.voteindianriver.gov/Election-Information/Early-Voting .

Thanks for everything you do to support native plant conservation in Florida!