Manatee County and local governments urge state help for storm recovery, wastewater and water‑supply projects

Manatee County leaders and municipal officials asked the county’s legislative delegation on Jan. 8 to seek state funding and policy changes to aid recovery from three storms and to finance multi‑year infrastructure projects including stormwater repairs, wastewater upgrades, expanded regional water supply capacity and housing supports for veterans and unhoused residents.

Chair Chris Cruz (Manatee County Commission) outlined eight appropriation requests and said three of the top priorities are stormwater projects that address neighborhoods still recovering from heavy rainfall and engineering failures. Cruz said the county lacks a dedicated maintenance funding source for stormwater and described immediate needs in areas such as Sylvan Oaks.

City of Bradenton officials told the delegation that the city’s wastewater system is stressed by inflow and infiltration into aging pipes. Bradenton staff explained that daily base flows of roughly 5–6 million gallons surge to 25–30 million gallons during storm events because stormwater enters deteriorated clay and cast‑iron lines; the city has prioritized rehabilitation and lining of about 65 miles of degraded pipe and has spent roughly $25 million so far to address the problem.

Bradenton also briefed the delegation on work toward advanced wastewater disposal—including a permitted injection option to move treated water back into the aquifer—and…