Ed Hunzeker delivers final budget as Manatee County administrator

For the first time in 10 years, Manatee County government’s revenues will exceed expenses, the outgoing county administrator says.

Ed Hunzeker delivered his final budget Tuesday as county administrator, thus beginning the county commission’s budget process. The recommended fiscal year 2018 net budget is $615 million, which does not include Port Manatee. But it does include the additional revenue from the half-cent sales tax, projected 9 percent increase in property tax revenue and growth in other revenues.

While not recommending a millage increase, Hunzeker is also recommending funding for an additional 10 law enforcement officers along with their vehicles and equipment and two new community paramedics.

“The unique thing about this budget is it’s the first time in 10 years that current revenue exceeds current expenses,” Hunzeker told the Bradenton Herald. “That means none of these county commissioners were here the last time that happened. ...They couldn’t set goals the last 10 years. We were cutting. This is an unique opportunity looking out 20 years.”

The current year’s net budget is $568 million (which also does not include Port Manatee).

Of the $47 million increase in revenue projected in this year over last, $18 million comes from the projected growth in property tax and $25.1 million comes from the infrastructure sales tax, according to Tuesday’s presentation.

“It has been a decade since we have seen this kind of growth in the tax base,” Hunzeker said while delivering the budget message. “This puts you in the unique position of being able to prioritize long-term investments more proactively. Instead of having to decide where to cut or how much to borrow, this board is now in the position to use your budget as a tool to address your priorities. The challenge this year will be one of setting priorities.”

Hunzeker added that the budget is “a short-term vehicle to implement your long-term vision or long-term goals.”

Homestead exemption impact

But with a proposal going before voters in 2018 to increase the homestead exemption by $25,000, Hunzeker said they are looking out into the future to prepare.

“This budget is taking a look at not only the next two years, but the next three years. Because in the third year, we fully expect the impact of a voter approval of additional $25,000 homestead exemption and the revenue loss associated with that to the county government,” he said.

As a way to prepare, Hunzeker is recommending reducing recurring spending by $2.8 million for the next three years “to meet the revenue shortfall we anticipate in 2020” of $8.2 million.

“By exercising discipline and avoiding the urge to spend all new revenues on recurring expenses, you will be in a position to reduce your annual operating budget by $8.2 million without reducing services in the third year of this plan,” Hunzeker said.

The budget also projects the first five years of the 15-year voter approved half-cent sales tax, Hunzeker said.

“It’s truly a unique budget from the first 10 budgets I presented to the board,” he said.

Commissioners react

This is a template, Commissioner Carol Whitmore noted.

“We can change it if we want or not,” she said.

Commissioner Charles Smith said it was difficult for him to absorb the budget.

“As I look at this budget, this budget here is very difficult with the recommendation by the county administrator,” he said. “I can tell you these are some bold recommendations that I haven’t seen the last two years.”

Manatee County is a “really low tax county,” Commissioner Robin DiSabatino said.

“Our taxes go a long, long way,” she said. “You get a whole lot of government for your money.”

Tuesday was the first step in the budget process, Commissioner Vanessa Baugh added.

“I look at the budget this year totally different than I have in the past,” she said.

This story was originally published May 30, 2017 at 1:30 PM with the headline "Ed Hunzeker delivers final budget as Manatee County administrator."