"This is nothing short of pork-barrel politics," he said. "They will be able to identify the pork projects they want to be funded."

Not true, said John Bennett, project manager at the Commission. If the bond does pass, the Commission will grant money based on applications from a variety of preservation groups and individuals throughout the state, he said.

Although some money is set aside for particular projects, like the $16 million ear-marked for clean water and the $57 million for conservation, Bennett said the Commission will weigh each application fairly to determine who gets money.

"We've been the only source of land conservation funds for years. We know how to manage these funds and we're ready to step in and do it," he said.

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E-mail: estewart@desnews.com