Manatee County commissioners voted to put a new referendum to increase the tourism tax on the ballot for voter approval during the November general election.
The commissioners discussed the matter on Tuesday, during their first return to the stage after the summer break. They also approved the purchase of the Triple Oak Preserve and millions of dollars in funding for local nonprofit programs.
In other news: A tropical wave has a chance of becoming a storm, but will it reach Sarasota, Bradenton?
Also: Who are the highest paid employees in Manatee County? We detail the government’s main winners
Voters invited to decide on tourism tax increase
Manatee County voters will decide on a new ballot initiative that would increase the tourism tax by 1% during this year’s general election.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Elliott Falcione said the Department of Revenue has confirmed that Manatee County is considered a high-impact tourism county, making the county eligible to charge an additional tourism tax of 1 % if approved by voters in November.
More: Qualifying Period Ends, Manatee County Voting Set for 2024 Primary
Commissioners voted 4-1 in favor of the referendum, with Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge voting against the measure and Commissioner Jason Bearden absent during the meeting.
“Tourism brings more than US$2 billion to our local economy each year. This includes $30 million in tourism tax revenue and more than $80 million in sales tax generation,” Falcione said. “Many would say that we as residents do not pay income taxes because of the No. 1 industry, tourism, in Florida.”
County will buy land for conservation
Commissioners voted to move forward with plans to purchase Triple Oak Preserve for a purchase price of about $3.6 million.
The 105-acre site, located at 30480 Betts Road in the town of Myakka, features 50 acres of forest, 25 acres of forested wetlands, 25 acres of mesic plains, five acres of flat forest, and one acre of freshwater ponds and marshes. . The property is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor between Myakka River State Park and lands under conservation easements.
The purchase is one of several recent acquisitions with voter-approved funds for environmental land protection. The county also closed on the purchase of land for the Emerson Point expansion last week.
Nonprofits Receive County Funding
County commissioners have allocated millions of dollars in funding to nonprofits for community support programs.
The county approved $16.9 million in funding for nonprofits through the Children’s Services grant, plus additional funding for Prodigal Daughters Journey Home, Isaiah 117 House and the Manatee County government for its studies Summer Blast Camp, at the request of District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard.
Major approvals include $2.09 million for six Step Up Suncoast programs, $3.02 million for three Early Learning Coalition of Manatee programs, $1.62 million for two Just for Girls programs, $1.265 million for two Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County programs, $1.08 for three programs in Centerstone of Florida and $1.07 million for three Safe Children Coalition Inc. programs.
Prodigal Daughters requested $100,000, Isaiah 117 House requested $96,000 and the county summer camp requested $67,500.
Commissioners also approved $663,196 in nonprofit funding from the Department of Adult Human Services. These approvals include $101,681 to United Way Suncoast, $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity, $75,000 to Keep Manatee Beautiful, $60,000 to Gulfcoast Legal Services and $60,000 to Legal Aid of Manasota.
Funding for the Rubonia Community Center youth program
Commissioners approved $68,420 in funding to support youth programming at the Rubonia Community Center.
The 5-0 vote awarded the funds in response to an emergency funding request Genesis Health Services, Inc. submitted because the deadline for funding children’s services had passed.
The agency used its reserves in June to pay for the start of the program, in addition to financing and a van donated by two local churches. Commissioners agreed to provide $68,420 to continue the program through September.
This article originally appeared in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Manatee County Approves New Nonprofit Funding and Election Initiative
