- January 21, 2026
Dear Editor:
I am writing to comment on your article “County to scrutinize Volusia Forever."
Last September, the County Council came close to reducing funding for Volusia Forever. This saber rattling is rattling my nerves. In 2020, over 75% of Volusia County voters approved extending Volusia Forever for another 20 years. As I read this article, I noted a few discrepancies. The article said some council members were concerned that this program was being used to avoid going through the “squeaky wheels” for future development. Landowners are under no obligation to sell their land to Volusia Forever, and avoiding future development on environmentally sensitive lands is exactly what the voters voted for.
The council is concerned about a 50% acquisition rate. This is a huge misconception and exaggeration. The 50% goal is for total protected land, not land acquired under Volusia Forever, and there are numerous ways to protect land. For example, many communities such as Halifax Plantation, Plantation Oaks and Farmton set aside conservation areas that are protected and on which the county collects taxes.
At one time, Volusia County was beacon to other counties on how to protect environmentally sensitive lands, being ahead of the curve in establishing a dedicated tax to protect environmentally sensitive lands that, in addition to providing recreation opportunities and a safe place for endangered species, also protect our drinking water source and provide flood control. Volusia County’s Volusia Forever program and abundance of protected lands actually were reasons my husband and I chose to buy a house in Volusia County. It is also what over 75% of voters said they wanted to protect. Listen to your constituents, please.
P. L. Gertenbach
Ormond Beach
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