Sarasota Voters Face $250 Million Bond and Major Tax Changes
Ballots closed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday for local races and state amendments that include a massive expansion of parkland funding and new homestead exemptions.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
Polls closed at 7 p.m. on Tuesday across Sarasota County, ending the voting period for local officials and state constitutional changes. Preliminary results were not released until 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time due to the state's two time zones. Voters in the area cast ballots for the governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and state legislative seats alongside specific local contests.
The Sarasota County ballot included two key referendums regarding the county’s environmentally sensitive lands and parkland program. One measure asked voters to extend an existing property tax of up to 0.25 mill through December 31, 2049. The current authorization for this tax runs only through 2029. A second measure authorized the county to issue up to $250 million in additional bonds to acquire and manage these lands. Repayment for these bonds would come directly from the program's property tax.
Florida voters also weighed three constitutional amendments with direct impacts on state budgets and property taxes. Amendment 1 sought to increase the state's budget stabilization fund from 10% to 25% of general revenue collections. It would also mandate annual transfers into the fund under specific conditions while allowing lawmakers to withdraw money for critical state needs. The amendment required a simple yes or no vote.
Amendment 2 focused on agricultural property. If approved, it would exempt qualifying tangible personal property located on agricultural land from property taxes. The exemption would apply to property used for agricultural production or agritourism activities. The first year the exemption would take effect is the 2027 tax year. Voters chose between yes and no on this measure.
Amendment 3 proposed the largest changes to property tax structures. It aimed to increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, with inflation adjustments following. The amendment would also reduce the annual cap on assessment increases for non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. Additionally, it established restrictions on how counties and municipalities may use property tax revenue.
Local races included contests for the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners and the School Board of Sarasota County. Voters also selected members for the Sarasota City Commission. The City Commission race featured at-large seats where voters were instructed to select two candidates. The Board of County Commissioners race specifically included a contest for District 4. The School Board contest was held for District 1.
Most polling places in Florida remained open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Election Day. Some counties in the Panhandle stayed open until 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time because they are in the Central Time Zone. Anyone already in line when the polls closed at 7 p.m. was permitted to cast a ballot. The state released the first batch of preliminary results at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
