Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved two conservation land acquisitions totaling approximately 711 acres Tuesday, advancing the Environmental Lands Program’s work as officials also addressed questions raised by a recent Inspector General audit of the program’s finances.
The approvals come after an Oct. 9 publication of an Inspector General’s audit examining the program’s revenues and expenditures from October 2022 through February 2026. The report identified areas for improvement in expense allocation, transparency, and financial reporting, prompting public commenters to ask on Tuesday how voter-approved conservation funds have been used.
The audit did not identify criminal wrongdoing, and auditors described program staff as knowledgeable and committed to spending funds in accordance with applicable statutes and county requirements…