County sends $2.6 million back to Manatee schools

While the reimbursement of $2.6 million in tax-collection fees to the School District of Manatee County is a cause for celebration within the school community, there are limitations on the money's uses.

The money will go towards teacher retention, safety and security, early learning, stem, arts and athletics.

Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved to refund the $2.6 million fees charged to the school board for collection of an optional, voter approved 1-mill school tax in 2024 and 2025. 

The Board of County Commissioners of Manatee County was paying this fee from 2018 until 2023 and it came as a shock to the school district when the fee was charged directly to them. 

“We can't make up for what's lost, but I can at least cover your future needs,” Commissioner Tal Siddique said. 

Cindy Spray, the chair for the school board, attended the meeting to speak and provide answers to questions.

“We're gracious that you are bringing this before the entire board to give us that money back, so we can get it into our classrooms and to our teachers,” Spray said.

The $2.6 million is limited to operating expenses, therefore it cannot be used towards capital construction projects or facilities improvements such as Rangeland High School’s auditorium. 

“While arts and academic programs are supported through the referendum, capital construction related to those programs is not an allowable expenditure under the voter-approved millage,” Jamie Carson, the communications director for the school district, said.

Siddique said he is glad that the county, tax collector’s office and the school district were able to come together to solve the issue. He said the county’s elected officials care.

“We care about the schools, the public schools in particular,” Siddique said. “At the end of the day, education is something that people in the county care a lot about. Why should the board of county commissioners stand in the way of that?”

Mandie Ferguson, the director of communications at the tax collector’s office, said it is a great outcome for students and teachers of Manatee County.

“We're grateful for the open conversations with our local partners and appreciate the county commission directing the excess operational revenue funds back to the school district,” Ferguson said. “We're also glad state lawmakers stepped in to provide explicit statutory guidance so that our office, and every tax collector in Florida, has clear, consistent rules to follow.”

Ferguson was referring to (HB 7031E, effective July 1), which clarified Florida Statute 192.091. 

“The updated statutory language provides that county commissions are responsible to pay the commissions associated with voted school millages,” Ferguson said. “This update established a clear, uniform statewide standard for how those costs are handled between local governments moving forward.”

Superintendent Laurie Breslin said she is grateful for the support and partnership from the county in the decision. 

“This funding means a great deal to our community and will help us continue the strong progress and positive momentum we achieved last year while creating even greater opportunities for student success in the future,” Breslin said. 

Siddique said the refund should be back in the school district’s possession within two weeks of the July 28 vote. 

“While we do not yet have an exact date for when the funds will be formally returned to the district, we are confident the reimbursement will be completed as quickly as possible while ensuring the appropriate due diligence and fiscal procedures are followed,” Carson said. “We are working closely with our partners at Manatee County Government throughout the process.”