Florida voters weigh new taxes to halt development in Manatee and Sarasota
Mid-term ballots in two counties offer residents a choice on property tax increases and bond issuances to protect land from urban expansion.
By Sakura Novak ·
Manatee and Sarasota County residents will decide this week whether to approve new funding mechanisms for land conservation. The measures appear on mid-term ballots alongside other local issues, asking voters to authorize increased property taxes and bond debt to preserve natural areas and farmland.
In Manatee County, the proposal includes a new property tax of up to 0.16 mills. It also authorizes the county to issue up to $75 million in bonds that will mature within 20 years. The revenue is intended for purchasing land and preventing development. Traci Dean, president and CEO of Conservation Florida, noted that the county has grown by 30 percent over the last decade. Dean stated that rural character and wild places are transitioning into intensive uses, increasing the demand for clean drinking water and wildlife habitat.
The Manatee initiative differs from previous efforts by incorporating farmland. It allows the county to purchase development rights on agricultural properties, limiting land practices to farming and ranching. Dean cited a 2020 referendum in which 71 percent of voters approved a similar bond measure to protect 1,000 acres of local land. She described the current ballot as giving the community a direct say in protecting resources that make the county a place to live and work.
Sarasota County presents two separate questions regarding established programs. One measure asks residents to extend the existing 0.25-mill tax for the Sensitive Lands Program and the Neighborhood Parkland Program through 2049. The second measure authorizes the county to use up to $250 million in bonds. Conservation Florida endorses both measures, citing a 19 percent population growth in the county over the past ten years. Dean explained that the programs are experiencing a transition of wild and agricultural lands into homes and strip malls.
The Sarasota programs have a track record of protecting over 42,000 acres since their inception in 1999 and 2005. The financial impact on homeowners varies by county. The Sarasota tax is expected to cost $51 per year for a median homesteaded house. In Manatee, the cost would be approximately $34 annually. Both referendums include provisions for annual audits and citizen oversight.
Additional local conservation measures are also on the ballot in Brevard, Charlotte, Marion, St. Johns, and Santa Rosa counties. These parallel initiatives reflect a regional trend where local governments seek voter approval to balance population growth with land preservation strategies.
