Manatee County sets tentative FY26 millage, approves 3% reduction to sheriff’s proposed increase

Sheila McLean, Manatee County chief financial officer, presented the county’s FY26 proposed budget and told commissioners the net budget proposal is $1,400,000,000 and the gross budget $2,500,000,000. McLean said the five‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) is reflected in the packet and has been trimmed to better match available resources.

The presentation said the board must adjust after the property appraiser’s July 1 certification, which reduced the county’s expected revenue and produced roughly a $15,000,000 drop in property‑tax receipts, about $11,300,000 of which affects the general fund. McLean also identified two legislative impacts: a recently passed bill that repeals the state business rent tax and a local lease option (identified in the packet as House bill 7031) and Florida Statute 197.319 refunds for storm‑displaced homeowners; she estimated those measures reduce general‑fund revenues by several million dollars and said staff has incorporated current shortfalls into expense cutbacks while waiting for final Department of Revenue estimates.

To help balance the general fund, McLean recommended a 3% reduction to the sheriff’s and clerk’s proposed increases, describing the adjustment as one element of staff’s reconciliation work. "I recommend the action, to take leads into the reduction of the sheriff's budget, by 3% or the equivalent of $8,000,000," McLean said during the presentation. The sheriff later confirmed he has been "underfunded for 4 years" and urged the board to weigh public‑safety impacts if cuts are required.

After public comment was opened and closed with no speakers, Commissioner Cruz called a motion to authorize administration to reduce the sheriff’s tentative budget by 3% (the motion read an amount of $8,094,167). The board voted and the motion passed; the chair announced the motion passed 6–0 with Commissioner Phelps absent.

Separately, Commissioner Bearden moved to reduce the tentative countywide millage by 0.05 mills. Commissioners debated the motion at length, with proponents saying any tax relief helps households and opponents saying the board lacks a specific, targeted $3–4 million plan for cuts and that the proposed reduction would only produce modest household savings (McLean cited an average household savings of about $22.50 at the county average assessed value). Public commenters urged caution given catch‑up needs for infrastructure and disaster recovery. That motion failed 2–4 (Commissioners McCann and Bearden in favor).

The board then considered McLean’s separate recommendation to temporarily realign 0.065 mills from the library millage to the Transportation Trust Fund to stabilize transit operations ($4,800,000 cited as the approximate equivalent). Commissioner Siddique moved and Commissioner Ballard seconded a motion authorizing the county administrator to certify the millage rates with that alignment; the motion passed 5–1 (Commissioner Bearden opposed, Commissioner Phelps absent).

What happens next: the board certified the maximum tentative millage and will hold two additional budget hearings (Sept. 10 and Sept. 22) to revisit millage levels and make final budget decisions for FY26.