Manatee approves $740 million county budget without significant impact from COVID-19
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners voted Monday evening to approve a $740 million 2021 budget.
While officials were previously expecting a $30 million hit to the budget, an updated state revenue estimate made up for much of the lost income. Instead of a 14 percent revenue cut, Florida officials revised their estimate to just 8 percent in August, according to Jan Brewer, the county’s director of financial management.
“It seems we’re becoming much stronger,” Brewer told commissioners at a recent budget hearing. “Until we get through a year of this COVID-19, the best thing is to go month by month.”
The millage rate remains unchanged at 6.4326. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
Earlier this summer, County Administrator Cheri Coryea laid out several budget scenarios based on the state’s revenue sharing, which outlined a $30 million decrease compared to last year’s budget due to the statewide financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, commissioners approved a $736.8 million budget.
Since last year, Manatee County’s property values increased by 7.3 percent countywide and by 7.8 percent in unincorporated areas. About $272.1 million in property taxes account for the largest chunk of the county’s income, Brewer said.
This year’s budget includes funding for the Lincoln Park Pool, building hardening at the John H. Marble Park and improvements at GT Bray Park. The county is also adding more staff to the Building and Development Services Department to handle development applications and two ambulances to respond to emergencies in underserved parts of the county.
“The citizens of our county have been represented well. We’ve gotten something everywhere,” Commissioner Carol Whitmore said.
“There is no question where the funds are and where the funding is,” Commissioner Betsy Benac added. “We’ve left this county in a phenomenal position because of a conservative budget.”
Public safety accounts for the largest part of the approved budegt, $204.1 million. That includes 12 new positions, including six patrol deputies, a detective and a fleet mechanic for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The agency will also spend $200,000 on bias and de-escalation training.
The county also approved the five-year Capital Improvement Plan, which includes $1.49 billion in funding for several major projects, such as the final stretch of the 44th Avenue East extension, beach renourishment on Anna Maria Island, lane changes on 60th Avenue East near the Ellenton Premium Outlets and the widening Moccasin Wallow Road.
For more information, visit www.MyManatee.org/budget.
