Town disputes trolley funding

The Longboat Key Town Commission doesn’t believe it should have to pay one penny toward a trolley route on the island.

That’s what commissioners told the Manatee County Commission at a work session Tuesday, Nov. 30, in Bradenton.

And because the town of Longboat Key contributes about $347,000 annually to Manatee County’s roads and transportation fund, the commission believes the county is obligated to keep the route running.

Manatee County officials only have agreed to fund $200,000 of the $300,000 Longboat Key trolley route that expires Dec. 31 and expect the town to fund the $100,000 shortfall.

But at the work session, Nov. 30, Mayor George Spoll questioned a variety of funding options the county proposed for the route.

For more information, pick up a copy of the Dec. 2 edition of The Longboat Observer.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].