What to know in Manatee: Tourism tax hike headed to the ballot

Manatee County commissioners voted to place a new referendum to raise the tourism tax on the ballot for voter approval during the November general election.

Commissioners discussed the matter on Tuesday during their first return to the dais after a summer recess. They also approved the purchase of the Triple Oak Preserve and millions of dollars in funding for programs by local nonprofits.

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Voters asked to decide on tourism tax increase

Manatee County voters will decide on a new ballot initiative that would raise the tourism tax by 1% during this year's general election.

Bradenton Area Convention & Visitor's Bureau Director Elliott Falcione said the Department of Revenue confirmed that Manatee County is deemed as a high-impact tourism county, making the county eligible to levy an additional 1% tourism tax if approved by voters in November.

More: Qualifying period ends, Manatee County ballot is set ahead of 2024 primary

Commissioners cast a 4 to 1 vote in favor of the referendum, with Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge voting against the measure and Commissioner Jason Bearden absent during the meeting.

"Tourism brings over $2 billion to our local economy a year. That includes $30 million in tourism tax collections and over $80 million in sales tax generation," Falcione said. "Many would say that we as residents do not pay income tax because of the number 1 industry, tourism, in Florida."

County set to purchase land for conservation

Commissioners voted to move forward on plans to purchase the Triple Oak Preserve for a purchase price of about $3.6 million.

The 105-acre parcel is located at 30480 Betts Road in Myakka City, it features 50 acres of forest, 25 acres of forested wetlands, 25 acres of mesic flatwoods, five acres of scrubby flatwood and an acre of ponds and freshwater marshlands. The property is located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor between the Myakka River State Park and land under conservation easements.

The purchase is one of several recent acquisitions with funds approved by voters for environmental land protection. The county also closed on the purchase of land to expand Emerson Point last week.

Nonprofits receive county funding

County commissioners 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 dedicated millage, plus additional funding for the Prodigal Daughters Journey Home, Isaiah 117 House, and Manatee County government for its Summer Blast Camp Scholarship at the request of District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard.

Major approvals include $2.09 million to 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 at Centerstone of Florida, and $1.07 million to three Safe Children Coalition Inc programs.

Prodigal daughters requested $100,000, Isaiah 117 House requested $96,000, and the county's summer blast camp requested $67,500.

Commissioners also approved $663,196 in nonprofit funding from the Adult Human Services Department. Those approvals include $101,681 to the 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 to 0 vote granted the funds in response to an emergency funding request by Genesis Health Services, Inc. filed because the deadline for children's services funding had passed.

The agency dipped into its reserves in June to pay for the start of programming, in addition to funding and a van donated by two local churches. Commissioners agreed to provide $68,420 to continue the program through September.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: What to know in Manatee: Tourism tax hike headed to the ballot