Sarasota County land-buying fund may run dry by 2029

Since a 1999 voter-approved referendum established its Environmental Sensitive Lands Protection Program, with a 2005 extension through 2029, Sarasota County has made 90 acquisitions of some 40,000 acres for permanent conservation. In addition, since 2005, the county’s Neighborhood Parkland Program has made 23 acquisitions comprising approximately 116 acres. 

The overall program's expiration is only six years away, though, meaning the end of the 0.25 mill funding source for the acquisition and maintenance of the land.

County Commissioner Mike Moran sounded what he called a “fire alarm” during the commission’s first 2024 budget workshop of the fiscal year, held March 22. He told his fellow board members that without a timely referendum, after 2029, revenue for maintenance will have to be pulled from other areas of the budget.