BOCC Focuses in on its 2023 Legislative Priorities

MANATEE COUNTY – In a work session Tuesday, the Manatee County Commission discussed how it would focus its state legislative agenda. A draft list of proposed issues, as well as some commissioner-suggested items, were presented for consideration and strategizing.

The proposed items were focused on prioritized areas including traffic and infrastructure funding requests, environmental and natural resources, and human needs.

While commissioners were readily able to agree on some top priorities–particularly those related to infrastructure and foster care–the board plans to convene again in order to finalize its 2023 legislative agenda.

Among traffic and infrastructure items up for discussion was a funding request to complete the final phase of Moccasin Wallow Road expansions and connectivity, a funding request for 44th Avenue East final section completion to connect over I-75, and the expansion of Fort Hamer Road to create a continuous north/south route east of I-75 in Manatee County.

Commissioners were in sweeping agreement that Fort Hamer Road should take the spot as the "top priority" in 2023. The commission would seek a $15 million appropriation in State Fiscal Year 2025 of construction funding for Fort Hamer Road from Manatee River to US 301 and another $15 million appropriation in the state fiscal year 2026 of construction funding for Fort Hamer Road from US 301 to Moccasin Wallow Road.

The 44th Avenue East project also received wide agreement on its priority. Commissioners would request a $10 million appropriation in State Fiscal Year 2025 for construction funding of the project while in Tallahassee.

Funding for Moccasin Wallow did not make the cut, however, as commissioners seemed to come to a consensus that the project would receive priority from a citizen who might have the sway at the state level to secure the funding needed without the board prioritizing the item itself.

"We want to get this funding (for Moccasin Wallow), obviously," suggested Commissioner Van Ostenbridge. "But we have a local citizen who goes to Tallahassee every year and is very well funded, and Moccasin Wallow is his top priority."

Van Ostenbridge went on to clarify that the citizen he was referencing is former Florida State Senator and local developer Pat Neal. Van Ostenbridge added that Mr. Neal has a "pretty good friendship with the governor" and indicated he was confident that Neal would have no trouble "locking up" the funding needed to complete the improvements to Moccasin Wallow. Due to the belief that Neal would likely succeed at securing the state funding needed for the project, commissioners decided Tuesday that it was not necessary to make the project a top priority of their legislative agenda.

"Not to put all this information out thereÉ but, he raised the governor $650,000," said Van Ostenbridge. "I think we will be getting the Moccasin Wallow Road money."

Though commissioners ultimately agreed with Van Ostenbridge's assertions, Commissioner James Satcher, whose district would be directly impacted by the project’s completion, expressed some concern about making an assumption that the funding is a shoo-in.

"We can look into that," proposed Satcher. "If it’s a guaranteed thing (securing the funding for Moccasin Wallow), then fine, we can move it down the list. But I would proceed with anything like that very carefully."

Another priority most commissioners seemed to agree upon was an atypical funding request proposed by Commissioner George Kruse. Kruse, who presented a motion to the board in October that provides an 18-month fare-free transit service pilot program, brought his colleagues a proposed legislative priority in the same vein.

The board appeared to agree on Tuesday that it would prioritize requesting a $1.2 million recurring appropriation in FY2025 and each following year to support a continued Manatee County fare-free transit service. The service goals would improve equity, accessibility, and system efficiency.

Kruse told the board the item was one he wanted to have included on the list partially because it is "different" in that it is not a typical request for funding for road improvements, but also because it "transcends transit." Kruse suggested that the board consider what its narrative is on transit–and think "out-of-the-box"–to catch the interest and attention of Tallahassee legislators.

"While this at the heart and soul is a transit request to help make transit free and more efficient, it’s more than that," explained Kruse. "This is also a development in the growth plan."

In addition, commissioners will also prioritize operating support for the county’s most popular transit route, route 99. The route runs between Sarasota and Manatee Counties with services to area universities. To support combined MCAT and SCAT service enhancements, including 15-minute intervals at 99 route stops instead of the current 30-minute intervals, the county would request a $1.1 million one-time capital appropriation in FY24 and a $1.7 million recurring appropriation in FY24 and each following year thereafter.

Several bridge projects were also raised during Tuesday’s discussion, but none required state funding due to the availability of federal infrastructure funding. Commissioners seemed to agree, however, that noting the bridge projects in the board’s legislative packet was important to affirm the need for the improvements. Included in Tuesday’s discussion was the replacement of the Desoto Bridge and funding for the Fort Hamer bridge. The commission also noted other key bridge replacements including those leading to Anna Maria Island via Cortez Road, Manatee Avenue and Longboat Pass.

Besides the infrastructure needs that garnished priority agreements among commissioners, policy priorities also came into focus. These included foster care funding needs, affordable housing, and increased broadband accessibility.

Commissioner Amanda Ballard spoke from firsthand experience on the importance of foster care funding support.

"The funding is not being equitably distributed and Manatee County is at a disadvantage," Ballard said. "Our kids are suffering, our case managers and social workers are suffering, we are bleeding social workers because caseloads are out of control," added Ballard, citing her previous work as an attorney in the foster care system.

"I witnessed it year after year," added Ballard. "I am so grateful that this board has decided to continue to prioritize this issue at the state level to make sure our most disadvantaged kids are put first and that we get the funding that we need to accomplish that."

Speaking in support of prioritizing affordable housing, Commissioner Mike Rahn told the board that he would like to see the commission take a stance in Tallahassee against the "raiding" of Sadowski funding.

"We are having a housing crisis in Manatee County, and the Sadowski and SHIP funds are evermore important to low-income folks that need down payment assistance programs," Rahn stressed.

SHIP is the State Housing Initiatives Partnership which was designed to serve very low, low, and moderate-income families. It provides funds to local governments as an incentive to create partnerships that produce and preserve affordable homeownership and multifamily housing.

The Sadowski Fund is a dedicated annual revenue source intended to keep affordable housing projects thriving across the state. Funded through stamp tax fees from real estate deals, the Sadowski includes two trust funds. 70 percent of the money in the Sadowski fund goes to SHIP and the other 30 percent goes into a State Apartment Incentive Loan program (SAIL). SAIL provides low-interest loans on a competitive basis to affordable housing developers annually.

Environmentally focused items raised during Tuesday’s discussion included funding Gulf Coast Recreation Trail Partnership to support the Gateway Greenway Trail segment construction and support for King Middle School tidal creek restoration project as identified in the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program's Five-Year Habitat Restoration Plan. Commissioners seemed to agree on the importance of considering these items, but requested future discussion and investigation into opportunities to combine similar projects and identify additional funding sources.

The board will meet again on January 10, when staff will return with a revised 2023 legislative agenda based on Tuesday’s discussion. Commissioners will review the revised list and request any amendments or additions before taking a vote to approve its finalized legislative priorities.

To view the draft list of Manatee Commission’s 2023 legislative priorities as discussed in Tuesday’s work session, click here.

To rewatch the presentation and discussion on the 2023 legislative agenda during Tuesday’s work session, click the video below.