Manatee County conservation referendum headed to November ballot

The referendum will ask voters whether they support the county taking out up to $50 million in bonds and levying a 0.15 mill property tax to support conservation and parks.

Manatee County voters in November will be asked whether they support a slight increase in property taxes to fund conservation efforts and parks in the county.

The board of county commissioners on Tuesday [July 27th] unanimously referred the referendum titled “Water Quality Protection, Fish and Wildlife Habitat Preservation, and Park Ad Valorem Tax and Bonds” to November’s ballot.

District 1 Commissioner Priscilla Trace abstained from the vote because of previously being approached about the possibility of selling some of her family’s land for preservation.

If approved, the referendum would authorize the county to take out up to $50 million in general obligation bonds to acquire land for parks and conservation. It would also levy a 0.15 mill ad-valorem property tax.

The referendum says the money would fund “the acquisition, improvement and management of land to protect drinking water sources and water quality, preserve fish and wildlife habitat, prevent stormwater runoff pollution and provide parks.”