BRADENTON With a focus on public safety, health care, and technology/cybersecurity, acting Manatee County Administrator Lee Washington presented the county commission with an FY24 budget proposal in the gross amount of $2,103,239,581, and a 5-year Capital Improvement Plan for FY24-28 totaling $2,110,214,932.
The fiscal year of Manatee County's annual budget runs from October 1 through September 30. The biennial budget development process is a ""zero-based"" budget process, meaning that each program starts with no funding, and the cost necessary to operate the program at a minimal level is determined and becomes the ""base unit"".
The base is then built upon by adding decision units, with each unit being the cost for an increase in the level of service provided by the program. All county departments that report to the county Administrator examine each program and service to evaluate needs and prioritize these services as ""decision units"" in accordance with available resources.
One-time purchases or non-recurring items are funded from non-recurring sources usually, fund balance and ongoing costs or recurring budget items are funded from recurring sources. Replacement equipment and major building repair needs are usually the highest priority non-recurring items.
Washington recommended a public safety budget of $190 million for FY24, representing an 11% or $18.6 million increase over the previous fiscal year. The $23.1 million budget includes eight additional EMTs for the Parrish EMS station, three additional animal services officers, and two additional code enforcement officers. This is an investment of over $2.3 million in Public Safety s FY24 Budget. As the Public Safety Department continues its efforts to address homelessness and transitional housing for veterans, the county has added $11.1 million in proposed funding.
As cyber threats continue to pose persistent risks to local governments, the county plans to update infrastructure, communication, security systems, proactive system monitoring, and essential business tools. Washington presented an additional investment of $923,000 in the recommended budget, adding two new positions (one IT Specialist and one IT Tech Lead) to support systems and provide continuity countywide.
The county plans to invest approximately $15.7 million in healthcare programs through its public safety department, with programs such as specialty care and prescription assistance, mental health, primary and preventative healthcare services, opioid prevention and response, and participation in the State s Low-Income Pool Program (LIP). Additional state funding of $5.1 million from money awarded in an opioid settlement will aid the continuation of programs that will address substance abuse treatment, education, prevention, and other related programs and services.
The Capital Improvement Plan includes two major projects within MSO, a new fleet facility and a new property evidence building, as well as two new stations that would be funded in the coming fiscal year with expected completion dates in the near future: a Lake Manatee EMS Base Station for $2.1 million, and a North County EMS Base Station for $1.0 million. The Moccasin Wallow Road EMS Station and ambulance would be completely funded in the CIP for $3.2 million, and are expected to be finished in April of next year.
To address rapid population growth, Washington and his team recommended the board invest $493.2 million in transportation improvements over the next five years. The investments include three major areas: road improvement, intersections, and sidewalks. Road improvements would represent 90.6% or $446.9 million of Transportation investments.
Highlights of major road projects, identified as ""The Big 6 include 59th St W four-lane from Cortez to Manatee Ave; 63rd Ave E four-lane US 301 to Tuttle Ave; 75th St W four-lane 20th Ave W to Manatee Ave W; Lena Road South of 44th Ave E of Landfill Road; Lorraine Road four-lane SR64 to 59th Ave East; Upper Manatee River Rd four-lane N of SR64 to Ft Hamer Bridge.
Other featured road projects include 44th Ave E 44th Ave Plaza E to Lakewood Ranch Blvd; 60th Ave E (Buffalo Road) Mendoza Road to Buffalo Road Terminus; Canal Road Corridor projects; and Moccasin Wallow Corridor projects.
The entire budget message can be read here.
Click here to watch the budget meeting, which includes Washington's presentation.
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