Sarasota County’s tax collector recently received the first Reef Plate Achievement Award from Mote Marine Lab, for selling the most “Protect Our Reefs” license plates. That county’s tax office, run by the Hon. Barbara Ford-Coates, has consistently held the number one ranking in Reef Plate sales, with 1,823 plates sold for a total of $45,575.

A second award went to Manatee County Tax Collector, the Hon. Ken Burton, Jr., that recognized his office’s work in achieving the highest number of Reef Plate sales during an employee contest held in April 2004. Manatee competed against Hillsborough and Sarasota counties for this distinction.

“Florida’s reefs are a vitally important state and national resource,” said Dr. Kumar Mahadevan, president of Mote Marine Laboratory. “We appreciate the work that tax collectors across the state have done in helping raise public awareness about them.”

Sales of the “Protect Our Reefs” plate were $526,800 in 2004, making it the sixth best-selling specialty license plate in Florida—of the almost 100 specialty plates available to Florida drivers. Mote Marine Laboratory, which sponsored the Reef Plate, is directing sales proceeds to coral reef research.

Mote Marine Laboratory, which sponsored the Reef Plate, is directing sales proceeds to coral reef research.

FS