The Volusia County Council is set to discuss potential changes to the Volusia Forever conservation program — a program that sets aside a portion of property tax approved by voters to acquire and preserve environmentally sensitive land across the county.
Volusia Forever was first approved by voters in 2000 for 20 years with 61.6 percent in favor. The measure came before voters again in 2020 and 75.6 percent of voters supported renewing the program.
Since the inception of the program in 2000, more than 30,000 acres of land have been procured for conservation. Since 2020, according to Volusia County, at least 6,694 additional acres have been conserved.
Concerns were raised at a December 2025 meeting of the Volusia County Council by Council Member Don Dempsey.
READ MORE: Conversation about conservation
Environmental advocates, council members and political candidates weighed in ahead of the March 17 County Council meeting.
Dream Green Volusia, a local nonprofit advocacy group, has representatives at city meetings to urge local municipalities — including Deltona, Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, DeLand, Orange City and Lake Helen — to publicly support the program.
Some cities and organizations voice support
City of Edgewater Mayor Diezel Depew wrote in a letter to the Volusia Forever Advisory Committee that conservation programs in Volusia County have demonstrated “extraordinary leadership in conserving nearly 60,000 acres of land through strategic partnerships and responsible stewardship.”
The City of Ormond Beach also highlighted the 2020 voter support for the initiative.
“The voice of Volusia County’s citizens could not be clearer,” Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie wrote. “‘Forever’ is not a marketing slogan but a solemn commitment to permanent conservation.”
Orange City Mayor Kellianne Marks also urged county leaders to preserve the program’s intent.
“It would be a travesty to see our County Elected Officials compromise the intent of the Volusia Forever program for any reason,” Marks wrote in the city’s letter to Volusia County Council.
The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting a conservation corridor from South Florida to North Florida that allows wildlife to migrate through the state, also urged the council to maintain Volusia Forever, writing that the program is “a key mechanism for conserving” lands connected to the wildlife corridor.
An incumbent and challenger disagree
Stetson University environmental science professor Wendy Anderson, who is challenging Don Dempsey for the Volusia County Council District 1 seat, spoke to the Lake Helen City Commission in support of the Volusia Forever program.
Following Anderson’s comments, the commission voted to send a letter supporting Volusia Forever to the County Council.
Volusia County Council Member Don Dempsey published a series of videos March 14 on his campaign website outlining concerns about the conservation program.
In the videos, Dempsey questioned the long-term nature of conservation easements used in the program and suggested those agreements should not last indefinitely.
Easements created through partnerships with state or federal agencies could limit potential future uses of land, Dempsey argued.
“None of us can see the future,” Dempsey said in one video. “I think what’s best is to limit these conservation easements to a term of 30 to 50 years.”
He also questioned whether the program’s current structure reflects the intent of the ballot language voters approved.
“So what exactly did we vote for?” Dempsey said. “Did we vote for only conservation? Or did we vote for conservation and resource-based recreation?”
Dempsey noted that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection considers activities such as hiking, hunting, horseback riding and motorized off-highway vehicle riding to be forms of resource-based recreation.
He also suggested that future needs could require flexibility in how land is used, including the possibility that land might someday be needed for infrastructure such as solar energy or to access water resources.
“I think it’s arrogant of this council to say that we know what’s best for Volusia in the year 3,000 and beyond,” he said in one of the videos.
Anderson said some of Dempsey’s criticisms misunderstand how the Volusia Forever program works.
“The state government owns and regulates all water in Florida, and the Water Management Districts issue permits for water use on all properties, whether they are privately or publicly owned,” Anderson said.
Anderson defended the Volusia Forever program, saying partnerships allow the county to protect more land with available funding.
“Those are generally very useful for us,” Anderson said. “[Partnerships] help us stretch our own Volusia Forever dollars, so we can purchase even more land over time.”
Partner organizations often assume responsibility for managing conservation properties after acquisition, Anderson added.
“[That] helps the county manage their tax-funded budgets more conservatively,” she said.
The Volusia County Council meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center, 123 W. Indiana Ave. in DeLand.
How Volusia Cities Are Responding to Calls for Support of Volusia Forever
Daytona Beach
Adopted a resolution supporting Volusia Forever and sent a letter to the County Council.
Daytona Beach Shores
Adopted a resolution supporting Volusia Forever and sent a letter to the County Council.
DeBary
City of DeBary Government Affairs Director Shari Simmans wrote in an email to The Beacon that the DeBary City Council has not discussed the issue and has not provided formal direction, but Mayor Karen Chasez has sent a personal letter to each Volusia County Council member, stating, in part, that “forever means forever.” Simmans said the letter reflects Chasez’s personal opinion rather than an official city position.
DeLand
No response before publication.
Deltona
The Deltona City Commission voted to draft a resolution in support of Volusia Forever at their March 2 meeting. The letter is set to be ratified at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the City Commission on April 6.
Edgewater
The City of Edgewater formally submitted a letter to the Volusia Forever Advisory Committee, which reviews and ranks land acquisition proposals and makes recommendations to the Volusia County Council. Mayor Diezel Depew wrote that the initiative has shown “extraordinary leadership in conserving nearly 60,000 acres of land.”
Holly Hill
City Manager Joseph Forte said that the government of Holly Hill has not been approached to take a position.
“Until I receive a request for anything specific, Holly Hill takes the position that matters going before the Volusia County Council are theirs to decide,” Forte said.
Lake Helen
Commissioners voted unanimously on March 12 to direct city staff to draft a letter supporting Volusia Forever and send it to the County Council.
New Smyrna Beach
No response before publication.
Oak Hill
No response before publication.
Orange City
Submitted a letter to the Volusia County Council supporting Volusia Forever. Mayor Kelli Marks wrote in her letter on behalf of the city that, “not a single parcel of land acquired through the program has been sold.”
Ormond Beach
Approved sending a letter to the Volusia County Council supporting Volusia Forever. Mayor Jason Leslie wrote that “the voice of Volusia County’s citizens could not be clearer.”
Port Orange
No response before publication.
South Daytona
No response before publication.
Source: https://www.beacononlinenews.com/articles/news/forever-or-for-now/