Ancient Islands Group Chair Tom Palmer was appointed Tuesday to Polk County’s Conservation Land Acquisition Selection Advisory Committee. He was the only member of a local environmental organization to be named to t he 10-member committee.
The committee, which will be chaired by County Commissioner Rick Wilson, will make recommendations to the County Commission on purchases of land or conservation easements restricting future development. The purchases will be funded with a property tax approved in November by the voters.
The levy is estimated to generate $11.2 million in its first year of the 20-year authorization.
The amount of expected revenue became an issue when it was revealed that although the ballot measure called for a levy of 20 cents per $1,000 of taxable property, the authorizing ordinance states the levy not to exceed that amount of millage. That gives commissioners the authority to levy a lower amount if they choose.
This issue was raised by some members of the Polk Forever committee during Tuesday’s meeting.
Commissioners did not respond at that time, but following the meeting Chairman George Lindsey said there had been some discussion among he and his colleagues to reduce the millage in all of the funds by 3 percent to give taxpayers a break.
Commissioners will make a decision on the proposed millage later this year in preparation for public hearings in September to adopt next year’s budget.