Manatee Commission approves tentative $563M budget, millage rate

MANATEE -- The Manatee County Commission approved a $563 million tentative net budget for 2015-16 on Tuesday night.

During the first of two public hearings, the commission adopted the tentative budget by a 5-2 vote, with commissioners Robin DiSabatino and Vanessa Baugh dissenting. The fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The commission also voted to keep the tentative millage rate at 7.0435, which includes .6109 mills for the unincorporated municipal services tax.

DiSabatino voted against the motion.

The budget includes $14 million in adjustments, including Port Manatee's budget.

The commission will adopt the budget and millage rate during the second public hearing at 6 p.m. Sept. 22 in the first-floor commission chambers of the County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.

"There are some things about this budget that really bother me," Baugh said. "To say that we don't care is truly so unfair. ... It's not just up to this county commission. It's up to all citizens in Manatee County."

DiSabatino said the county is spending its reserves and needs a plan to pay for health care for the indigent and other county needs.

"We needed to start this discussion two or three years ago of how we are going to fund this," DiSabatino said. "We need to make some bold decisions. I am asking for that bold leadership. If not, we need change in leadership."

Commission Chairwoman Betsy Benac said "we are really making Band-Aid decisions."

"We are going to be in trouble and we do need to come up with a plan for addition

al revenue," Benac said. "We have to start now. We have to start right away to look at what are the options."

About 10 members of the public spoke during the hearing.

Most addressed funding indigent health care.

Tammy Grant, director of patient access at the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, said the money is for real human beings.

"It's not just a line item in a budget," she said. "It's not a park bench. It's a person. I just urge you to continue funding us so we can continue to say yes to those patients to get them back on their feet and back in the community."

In July, the commission voted to keep the millage rate the same for the eighth consecutive year. In May, there was no property tax rate increase in the $549 million budget county Administrator Ed Hunzeker proposed for fiscal year 2015-16.

A motion to increase the millage rate by .0742 mil in the name of public safety in July failed after a 3-3 vote.

Commissioner Charles Smith said the millage rate increase would have taken care of all budget problems.

"It's not just health care," Smith said. "We have issues across the board dealing with the deficit. This, in my opinion, is a shotgun budget where you have to vote for something that you really don't support and I'm not used to them."

Without possibly increasing taxes in the future, quality of life in Manatee County will suffer, Smith said.

"No one wants to increase taxes," Smith said. "But if your position is that you will never do it, it becomes a political issue. We have to do something."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published September 16, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee Commission approves tentative $563M budget, millage rate ."