TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet on Tuesday approved several major conservation land deals, over the objection of state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.
The Cabinet approved the purchase of over 25,000 acres in southwestern Florida for $122 million. Under 2023 legislation, the state will be required to offer ranching and real estate company Tarpon Blue and the companies of the Collier family, who own vast ranch lands in southwestern Florida, a lease at fair market value to use the property.
Patronis voted against this purchase and two other land buys in central Florida without comment at Tuesday’s meeting. But he told reporters after the meeting that a POLITICO story about the Collier property deal raised questions for him about the proposals.
Patronis said the land may be overvalued since a federal judge ruled Feb. 15 that Florida can no longer issue federal wetlands permits. Patronis echoed state environmental officials and developers in arguing that the ruling has brought projects to a halt.
