Marion County's $140 Million Parks and Conservation Bond Is on the Nov. 3 Ballot: What It Would Fund

Countywide on the Nov. 3, 2026 general election ballot, Marion County voters will find a referendum titled "Marion County General Obligation Bond Referendum for Parks, Trails, Clean Water Protection, Farms and Forests." A yes vote would let the county issue up to $140 million in bonds, repaid by a countywide property tax capped at 0.35 mill.

AI-generated illustration.

The Board of County Commissioners approved the resolution placing the question on the ballot on Aug. 18, 2026. The county's Parks & Conservation Program page says the vote was unanimous.

The Ballot Question

The question appears on the county's 2026 general election sample ballot exactly as the commission wrote it:

To acquire and improve lands and conservation easements for parks, trails, and recreational facilities, preserve and protect natural lands, farms, forests, and quality of drinking water sources, springs, rivers and lakes, shall Marion County issue bonds up to $140 million principal amount, maturing within 20 years of each issuance, bearing interest not exceeding the maximum legal rate, payable from countywide ad valorem taxes not exceeding 0.35 mils, with full public disclosure of all spending?

The choices are "Yes - For Bonds" and "No - Against Bonds." It takes a simple majority. If it fails, the resolution says, no bonds will be issued and no tax will be levied under it.

What a Yes Vote Does, and Doesn't Do

The resolution says voter approval "authorizes, but does not require," the bonds. In practice:

• Bonds are optional. The commission may issue all, some or none of the $140 million, in one or more tranches. Each tranche must be paid off within 20 years.


• The tax rate is a ceiling. The commission sets the program's rate each year in the budget, up to 0.35 mill, and does not have to levy the full amount. A mill is $1 per $1,000 of taxable value, so the cap works out to no more than $35 a year per $100,000 of taxable value.


• Pay-as-you-go is allowed. The county may skip borrowing and spend the tax revenue directly on projects. Any money left over after debt payments stays restricted to the program.


• No specific land is approved. Each land purchase still needs its own commission vote, appraisal and due diligence. Land bought for preservation can't be sold or converted without a public hearing and replacement protection of equal value.

How the Money Must Be Split

The resolution locks in spending ranges, measured over the life of the program:

• At least 70% for construction: design, permitting and building parks, trails and facilities.


• 10% to 20% for land acquisition and preservation, including conservation easements on farms and forests.


• Up to 10% for program management and operations and maintenance.

Changing those ranges would take another referendum. The resolution also requires separate accounting, an online report or dashboard at least quarterly, an annual independent audit presented at a public meeting, and an initial Parks and Conservation Program Plan adopted at a public meeting within 180 days of a favorable result.

What It Could Pay For

The county has published an initial project list by commission district. It is a starting point; the resolution lets the board substitute eligible projects later.

• Countywide: land and water resource protection with state agencies and the St. Johns River and Southwest Florida water management districts; a multi-functional facility that would double as a hardened special-needs hurricane shelter and a sports-tournament venue; LED lighting for the county's 54 lighted sports fields and 22 courts.


• District 1: a new playground, pavilion, parking and trail rehabilitation at Baseline Road Trailhead; a new recreation center and courts at Brick City Adventure Park; a visitors and interpretive center at Fort King National Historic Landmark; more fields at Shocker Park.


• District 2: a park with a Greenway trailhead, sport field, playground and dog park, possibly on SW 49th Ave. Rd. through a land swap for Independence Park; a new Southwest Regional Park; conservation land in the southwest.


• District 3: new and improved fields and courts at Belleview Sportsplex; an RV campground, cabins and docks at Carney Island; field, parking and playground upgrades at Rotary Sportsplex; a hall and kitchen renovation at Kiwanis Beach at Albright Park.


• District 4: playground and courts at Cougar Park in Fort McCoy; a public gun range (contingent on finding a site in the northeast); cabin and bunkhouse renovations at Horseshoe Lake Park; a rebuilt waterfront and boat ramp at Ray Wayside Park; a restroom and civic center work at Salt Springs Civic Park.


• District 5: wash racks, corrals and restrooms for the equine trails at Norm Westbrook Park; a new Northwest Regional Park west of I-75.

Where to Learn More

Marion County Parks & Recreation is at 111 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, (352) 671-8560. For how, when and where to vote, see our Marion County voting guide for Nov. 3, 2026. For the parks themselves, see Marion County parks.

Sources: Marion County Board of County Commissioners resolution and agenda item 2026-23984 (approved Aug. 18, 2026); Marion County Parks & Recreation Parks & Conservation Program page; Marion County Supervisor of Elections 2026 general election sample ballot. Checked Oct. 7, 2026. Only In Ocala takes no position on ballot measures.