Millage Rate Increase to be Discussed at Tonight's School Board Budget Workshop

BRADENTON -- The Manatee County School Board will meet tonight at 5:45 for a budget workshop. It will be the last budget workshop prior to the public hearing authorizing the budget on September 8.

The superintendent and board will discuss the millage rate, which is set to be approved at that September 8 meeting. Another issue still in contention that may likely come up is the more than $30 million in consulting fees, whether they are necessary, and whether their effectiveness is being properly measured.

Much to the chagrin of many taxpayers, the board recently voted itself the authority to increase the millage rate by .748, even after voters effectively rejected such an increase at the polls last November. The meeting will take place at the Manatee School District Administration Building, located at 215 Manatee Avenue West in in downtown Bradenton near the Champs Sports complex. Citizens are welcome to attend.

Click here for the full agenda of today's meeting. For more information on the school board or the Manatee County School District, visit their website.