The 2024-25 budget Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in June contains $116.5 billion in funding, including money for preservation on Rattlesnake Key.
A line item in the budget that went into effect July 1 provides $8 million for Rattlesnake Key, Alexandra Kuchta, Florida Department of Environmental Protection communications director confirmed July 3 in an email to The Islander.
Rattlesnake Key lies southwest of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Tampa and Terra Ceia bays and for decades the state’s goal has been to protect environmentally sensitive and recreationally attractive acreage in the area.
In addition to the $8 million in state money for the Rattlesnake preservation push, Manatee County, a partner on the project, has authorized about $2 million for acquisition.
The county also is taking the lead on the purchase, which would allow Rattlesnake to become a county preserve rather than a state park, as initially intended.
In 2022, DeSantis signed a budget that included $23 million to acquire more than 1,000 acres to create a state park.
The DEP has told The Islander that its purchase offer to property owners in 2023 was not accepted and the sun has set on that appropriation.
Both appropriations were sought by state Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, who has called Rattlesnake a gem that should be forever preserved.