Yes. Nothing is more important than having clean water to drink. This referendum purchases land to protect drinking water quality by preventing runoff and toxic chemicals from flowing into Manatee County’s water supply.

Yes. Protecting the land along the Manatee, Little Manatee, Braden and Myakka Rivers keeps runoff and pollution out of the waterways that flow to our bays.

This referendum provides funds to acquire land for natural protection from flooding. Conserving our coastal areas that buffer against storms and the forests and wetlands that naturally absorb floodwaters reduces the inundation risk to homeowners and local businesses.

The window is closing. Manatee County is growing quickly, land prices are rising dramatically, and the amount of available natural land is dwindling rapidly. This referendum permits us to protect the last remaining natural areas and wildlife habitats before they are lost forever to development — so future generations can enjoy Manatee County the same way we do.

Yes. Creating and expanding public preserves is one of the purposes written into this referendum. There will be opportunities for activities like hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, horseback riding, camping, picnicking, and outdoor education programs.

Manatee County works with willing farmers and ranchers to permanently protect their land from development, and owners receive funds to keep it in agricultural use. This is entirely voluntary — no land is taken. Already 1,483 acres of working rural lands are protected.

Growth is inevitable. The question is whether the people of Manatee County will have any say in what gets protected and how it is done. This referendum gives residents an opportunity to make a difference.

Properties are nominated by citizens through the Environmental Lands Acquisition Nomination Form. Each property is evaluated against the County’s Natural Resource Value Criteria and the Environmental Lands Program Management follows up to confirm there is a willing seller. The citizens’ advisory committee (ELMAC) reviews candidates and advises the County Commission, which makes the final decision in an open, public meeting. No land is taken.

Yes. There will be full public disclosure of project spending.

Yes. There will be an annual public audit of how the funds are spent — a requirement written into the ballot language itself.

No. The funds from this referendum can only be used for land conservation and nothing else.

Yes. The funds from this referendum will be matched with federal, state and private funds — protecting more land at a lower cost to Manatee County taxpayers.

Yes. A citizens’ advisory committee — the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC) — guides the County Commission in their decision-making, reviewing candidate properties in an open, public process.

No. Manatee County purchases land only from willing sellers.

To acquire and preserve land to protect drinking water, water quality, wildlife habitats, working farms, and create public preserves, the measure authorizes an ad valorem tax of no more than 0.16 mills and the issuance of up to $75 million in bonds, maturing within 20 years.

For the median Manatee County homesteaded property, that means about $34 a year, or $2.83 a month, a small price to pay to protect our community and preserve its natural lands.

Land often only becomes available once. With land prices rising dramatically and the amount of natural land rapidly dwindling, waiting and saving up often means paying more later — or losing the property altogether. By acting now, using bonds, Manatee County secures land at today’s prices and avoids higher future costs.

In 2020, more than 70% of Manatee County voters approved conservation funding, and the program has protected more than 300 acres and an additional 1,483 acres of working rural lands and habitats through conservation easements, while attracting millions in outside dollars. That funding is now almost entirely exhausted. Meanwhile, development has not slowed. This measure keeps the program going to enable more preservation.

It doesn’t. Amendment 3 is a separate, statewide question about the homestead exemption. This referendum is a local Manatee County question that creates dedicated conservation funding — money that can only be used for land conservation and nothing else. Both are on your November ballot, but they are separate decisions.

No.

No. Amendment 3 does not take natural resource protection or bond debt service off the list of what property taxes may fund. Manatee County keeps full authority to acquire and protect conservation land.

The question appears under the heading “Water Quality Protection, Overdevelopment Prevention, Natural Lands Preservation, and Public Preserves General Obligation Bond Referendum,” followed by the full ballot text and two choices: FOR BONDS and AGAINST BONDS. The exact wording is reproduced above.

Near the bottom or on the last page of your ballot, after the statewide and local candidate races. You can check your sample ballot at votemanatee.gov/sample-ballots.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Polls are open 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Monday, October 5, 2026.

Monday, October 19 through Sunday, November 1, 2026, 8:30 am to 6:00 pm daily. See more at votemanatee.gov/early-voting.

Request your ballot from the Supervisor of Elections by 5:00 pm on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Completed ballots must be received by 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 3. Learn more at votemanatee.gov/about-vote-by-mail.