MANATEE COUNTY (SNN TV) – Manatee County proposes a massive $2.1 billion budget to keep pace with population growth.
Surging population growth in East Manatee County was a priority for the county’s record-breaking budget proposal.
Staff members presented the new budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year at public county commission meetings over the past week. Proposals include a $190 million dollar budget for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, $23.1 million for the Public Safety Department, $15.7 million for healthcare programs, and $493.2 million on road improvements during the next five years.
Plus, the urgency to acquire a firm to manage HR services is high, as the county fired former HR Director Jennifer Harmon .
Commissioners must now decide between funding budget requests made by staff or pulling the reigns back on spending to pursue another consecutive tax rate cut for residents.