Voters Approve $5.7 Billion in Conservation Funds

"Voters approved 77 percent of the tax or bond initiatives on the ballot in 23 states in the midterm elections, according to research by the Trust for Public Land. Ninety-nine of 128 measures passed. Those votes will place $5.73 billion in the hands of local and state leaders to help fund land conservation."

"'There are community-wide benefits that mean a lot to everyone,' said Ernest Cook, director of the trust's conservation finance program."

"And while the largest sums up for votes this year were in so-called blue states, support for government spending on land conservation isn't unique to Democratic Party strongholds, he said."

"In Cobb County, Georgia, a $40 million bond for land conservation passed with 72 percent of the vote. The suburban county is solidly Republican, with GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue taking 66 percent of the vote this year."

"'It's a nonpartisan issue,' said Cobb County Commission Chairman Sam Olens, a Republican."