13-member board to advise Manatee County Commission on ways to address the county's funding issues
MANATEE -- A recently formed Citizens Financial Structure Advisory Board tasked with helping to address Manatee County government's funding issues will get its start Tuesday.
Thirteen Manatee County residents are set to be appointed to the advisory board, which will advise the county commission, during Tuesday's commission meeting. The commission voted at the Oct. 20 meeting to establish the advisory board, which will only exist for five months.
The advisory board members, who are a combination of members appointed by each county commissioner and members representing various business and economic organizations, will advise the commission to help address funding issues. Each commissioner appointed a member who lives in their respective district to serve on the board. The remaining six members represent organizations including the Greater Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp., Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance and Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
"The purpose of this advisory board is to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding matters related to the best combination of available revenue sources to fund county services, programs and capital projects," according to agenda materials.
The commissioner-appointed members are:
Lou Marinaccio, founder of MGA Insurance Group in Lakewood Ranch, appointed by Commissioner Vanessa Baugh.
Ron Allen, president with NDC Construction Company, appointed by Commissioner Betsy Benac.
Tom Garland, who was appointed by Commissioner Larry Bustle.
Chuck Slater, vice president of the board of directors of the Manatee Community Foundation, appointed by Commissioner John Chappie.
Kerry Kacherian, works at Progressive Employer Management Company and who previously served on the South County Community Redevelopment Agency advisory board, appointed by Commissioner Robin DiSabatino.
Pastor Charles Williams, a local pastor who ran for Manatee County supervisor of elections in 2012, appointed by Commissioner Charles Smith.
Dave Zaccagnino, a former Holmes Beach City commissioner who ran for mayor of Holmes Beach in 2014, appointed by Commissioner Carol Whitmore.
Other members are:
Karen LaPensee, past chair of the board of directors of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce.
Tarnisha Cliatt, president of the Black Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Moschella, incoming chairman of the Greater Bradenton Area Economic Development Corp.
Junior Salazar, past president of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Adamson, governmental affairs co-chair of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.
Mac Carraway, member of the Manatee Chamber of Commerce.
The advisory board, which was proposed by County Administrator Ed Hunzeker as a way to look at how Manatee County government pays for itself, will be supported through the county's financial management department. During the five-month existence of the board, which will sunset May 1 per the resolution,
The county faces a potential deficit in 2018 when it is expected to exhaust the general portion of the budget stabilization reserve fund.
"We are looking out long term and, over the long term, if the current way we fund the government is appropriate, and are the funds to fund government appropriate?" Hunzeker said during the Oct. 20 meeting.
Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.
This story was originally published November 30, 2015 at 4:11 PM with the headline "13-member board to advise Manatee County Commission on ways to address the county's funding issues ."