A new aquarium planned for Florida.
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota secured a total of $5 million from Manatee County’s tourism taxes to help pay for the organization’s new Science Education Aquarium at Nathan Benderson Park.
Tuesday morning’s approval came more than a year after the Sarasota-based research aquarium asked the Manatee Board of County Commissioners to provide $15 million in funding toward the 1-million gallon facility. The board voted 6-1 to approve a much lower annual contribution of $1 million for five years.Commissioners have debated the allocation for several months, with some arguing that the funds would be better spent within county lines. While tourism taxes are collected from fees attached to hotel and short-term rentals, the funds cannot be spent on construction outside of Manatee County. The Mote SEA will be built in Sarasota County, just south of the county line, and is expected to cost around $130 million.
Source: https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article246090600.html