NewsWUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Politics)October 25, 2026Hillsborough County
Manatee County voters to weigh property tax increase and $75 million bond for land conservation in November
Photo: WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Politics)
Manatee County voters will decide on a November referendum to increase property taxes and authorize up to $75 million in bonds to expand a land conservation program. The measure would cost the median homesteaded property owner about $34 per year and allow the county to purchase environmentally sensitive land and development rights to protect drinking water sources.
Read the full story at WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Politics)Why It Matters
Property taxes for median homesteaded owners in Manatee County would increase by approximately $34 annually to fund up to $75 million in bonds for acquiring environmentally sensitive lands and s.
Key Facts
- Manatee County voters will decide in a November referendum whether to increase property taxes to fund a land conservation program.
- The ballot measure authorizes up to $75 million in bonds to acquire and preserve environmentally sensitive land.
- The measure would cost the median Manatee County homesteaded property owner about $34 per year.
- Manatee County's population grew by 17% since 2020, adding nearly 70,000 residents, and is projected to grow another 17% by 2040.
- Voters overwhelmingly approved a previous land conservation program in 2020 with over 70% support, which authorized $50 million in bonds.
- The 2020 program enabled the county to acquire over 300 acres, including land expanding Emerson Point Preserve.
- Unlike the previous program, this round of bonds would allow the committee to recommend preservation through conservation easements as well as fee-simple acquisitions.
- Conservation easements allow the county to purchase development rights in perpetuity for up to half the land's value without purchasing the land itself.
- Two-thirds of Manatee County's drinking water comes from Lake Manatee.
- County officials previously indicated the county might need to draw water from the Peace River system by 2036, though future projects at Duette Preserve may defer this need.
- The Southwest Florida Water Management District extended one-day-per-week watering restrictions through March 2027 due to a drier season and extreme water shortages.
Who's Mentioned
locationEmerson Point Preserve“Preserve expanded through the 2020 land conservation program”locationDeSoto“County included in the water management district”locationHillsborough“County included in the water management district”OrganizationSouthwest Florida Water Management District“District that declared an extreme water shortage and extended watering restricti”locationLake Manatee“Source of two-thirds of Manatee County's water”locationPeace River“External water supply system the county may need to draw from by 2036”locationManatee County“Local government and region experiencing population growth and water supply pres”locationManatee River“Crucial water source whose surrounding land protection helps prevent runoff and ”PersonCasey Zempel“Spokesperson for Manatee County”locationSarasota“County included in the water management district”OrganizationPeace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority“Authority operating a 6-billion gallon reservoir holding about 3 billion gallons”PersonMerrie Lynn Parker“Campaign member for 'Protect Water, Preserve Land'”PersonTal Siddique“Manatee County Commissioner”PersonPatrick Shea“Manatee County Utilities Director”PersonMason Gravely“Chair of the county's Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Advisory Co”PersonEmily Andersen“Photojournalist for Suncoast Searchlight”locationDuette Preserve“Preserve including the Manatee River headwaters accounting for about a third of ”