Manatee County Government
Manatee County hosts second of two public hearings on next year’s budget
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Sept. 24, 2010) – The public is invited Tuesday, Sept. 28 to the second of two public hearings for Manatee County Government’s 2010-11 budget which begins Oct. 1, 2010.
The public hearing will begin at 6 p.m. in the first-floor chambers of Manatee County Administrative Center, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
The Board will vote on a county millage rate that is lower than that advertised on Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices mailed to property owners in August.
Manatee County hosted an initial public workshop in June to discuss community priorities on the budget and held its first public hearing on Sept. 16. During that hearing, Commissioners rejected a proposal for a slight tax increase which would have provided additional funds for Manatee Sheriff’s Office.
On May 27, County Administrator Ed Hunzeker presented the Board with an annual budget that is $26.1 million less than the current year, but which avoids major service reductions to the community. If the budget is approved, the County budget will have been slashed more than $122 million over the past four years.
During the budget’s first public hearing, Commissioners approved a property tax millage rate of $6.2993, the same as last year, and a $484 million budget, down about $26 million from last year.
Budget reductions for Fiscal 2010 - 11 are largely a result of property tax revenues which have fallen by almost $24.6 million. To soften the blow and to avoid major service reductions, Hunzeker and Financial Management Department officials recommended to the County Commission a three-year plan to use a budget stabilization fund. The Commission’s prudent financial management enabled the County to create the fund during more robust years to buffer against economic downturns like the present.
The recommendations do not stretch any program to a point at which it could not continue. Hunzeker’s zero-based budgeting approach requires each Manatee County service and program to be considered in a series of decision units. Top priorities are funded first, and greater levels of service are approved if funding is available.
For more information on Manatee County’s proposed budget, click on the 2011 Recommended Budget link on the left side of the page at www.mymanatee.org