Anna Maria commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office to renew law enforcement services for the 2016-17 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.
The contract totals $688,235.68, less than half a percent increase from the 2015-16 fiscal year, when the city spent $685,626 for MCSO services.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy expected the sheriff to request a 1 percent increase, but a closer look at the budget found that Sgt. Russ Schnering, who heads the MCSO-Anna Maria substation, overestimated officer salaries, bringing the total contract amount to a 0.38 percent increase.
Last year, city commissioners clashed with the MCSO when Sheriff Brad Steube requested an increase of 6.9 percent in the contract, leading the mayor to consider a city police department. However, the city approved the contract and the increase.
“This is a good deal and much better coverage,” the mayor said, adding that Schnering is an asset to the MCSO.
The sheriff’s contract makes up 14.5 percent of the city’s proposed budget expenses for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
City commissioners will hold public hearings to adopt the budget, including the sheriff’s contract, 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7 and Wednesday, Sept. 21, at city hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.