Conservation land makes up 27% of Lee County, including areas like Six Mile Cypress Preserve, but the county’s Conservation 20/20 program is facing a critical funding gap as commissioners prepare to vote on the budget.
The Conservation 20/20 ordinance was first passed in 1996, then reaffirmed in 2016 by Lee County voters with 86% support. However, the county’s proposed budget does not replenish the program’s funds.
“That fund hasn’t been fully replenished after a couple major purchases have come out of it. This is due to a couple of things, but the budget appropriations just weren’t there,” Matt DePaolis said…