Manatee County bucks barrier island tax request

Manatee County voters will decide in November on a half-cent sales tax that would net $172,000 annually for Longboat Key. But it could have been nearly triple that number.

Yesterday, Manatee County commissioners declined to change the referendum language to include a breakdown devoting a larger portion for barrier islands. 

Mayor Jack Duncan, along with mayors from the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach had asked that the county put 10% of the potential revenues aside and distribute them using tourism numbers. Longboat would receive $474,300 under that allocation method.

“For the islands, it’s the goose that lays the golden egg problem,” said Commissioner Larry Bustle. The county’s tourism promotion has been successful in bringing more people to the barrier islands, which has put stress on the infrastructure.

“But there are plenty of other opportunities to make you whole,” Bustle said.

Although Duncan didn’t convince county commissioners to support a new surtax breakdown, Town Attorney Maggie Mooney-Portale was able to add new language to the ordinance that clarifies how the town can use the potential funds. 

And the County Commission will meet with the barrier island mayors to discus specific projects they are considering, after which interlocal agreements could aid in disbursing money on a project-by-project basis.

Further, Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon praised the cooperation among island leaders as a first, and indicated the group will continue to lobby for barrier island issues.

“This is an indication of a big change for the islands,” Shearon said. “I think this is the first time the four mayors have worked continuously together to have our concerns and our issues addressed.”