Barrier island city officials are calling for county support to maintain infrastructure in the face of increased tourism.
Island officials representing Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Longboat Key are requesting funds from Manatee County that aren’t currently allocated in the county budget.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon, Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson, newly appointed Longboat Key Mayor Terry Gans and Longboat Key town manager Dave Bullock presented the needs in a county workshop, Dec. 6.
According to the report assembled by Bullock, barrier island residential populations are shrinking but the demand on island infrastructure — public safety, transportation, parks and recreation, public buildings and beaches and waterways — is increasing.
The report prepared by Bullock with information supplied by the mayors, states island municipalities are the source of 58 percent of tourist tax dollars and home to 2.7 percent of the county’s population.
The report also shows the day-tripper and seasonal visitor populations more than triple the resident population when averaged across the four cities. Also, the report projects a deficit of $73,610,548 for infrastructure and operating expenses for the cities over a 15-year period.
The mayors asked the county for an increase of 33 percent in funding.
“It is difficult to track day-trippers accurately, but they do have a huge impact — they place an extraordinary burden on city infrastructure, just based on the nature of these visitors,” Bullock said.
Currently, the municipalities receive infrastructure funding from gas tax revenues, stormwater permit revenues, Southwest Florida Water Management District grants, half-cent sales tax revenues, capital improvement funding through “other revenues” and property taxes.
County Commissioner Betsy Benac said the report indicated a need for road repairs — an expense not covered by tourist development tax funds — and asked if the municipalities had “other revenues for maintenance.”
Murphy said the fuel tax revenue is not enough to pay for road repairs and Anna Maria is using money from general funds for needed repairs.
Anna Maria’s 2016-17 fiscal year budget shows a total intergovernmental revenue of $596,000 with $341,000 in projected road repair costs.
Benac asked Bullock if he had accounted for increased millage rates when he calculated revenue needs.
Millage is $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. At $2.33 mills — the 2017 millage rate for Bradenton Beach — the ad valorem tax on a property valued at $500,000 would be $1,165.
Ad valorem tax money is used by the municipalities for expenses.
Bullock said “no” and that the capital expenditures were averaged over five years — with the exception of renovations to the Historic Bridge Street Pier in Bradenton Beach — to calculate needs.
According to the state, the county’s ad valorem tax value for fiscal year 2017 is $30.5 billion — the same as 2007.
County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said, “We may have the values, but we don’t have the revenue — our revenue is still 18 percent below 2007.” He cited exemptions and portability.
“But, if you look at the numbers out there, you aren’t doing bad — the recovery is in full bloom right now and it’s affecting everyone the same,” Bullock said.
County Commissioner Charles Smith said, “I think the misconception in Manatee County is everyone is benefiting from the tourists — they’re not.”
Smith suggested the island officials approach the Manatee County Tourist Development Council — the county’s recommending board for funding acquired through the tourist development tax, also known as the bed tax.
This is the method the cities use to secure funding for tourism-related projects. TDC funding is restricted by the state to promote and develop tourism and county officials have said it cannot be applied to infrastructure.
“We are not requesting where the money comes from, just stating our needs,” Bullock replied.
County Commissioner Carol Whitmore also directed the island representatives to the TDC and suggested applying for concessionaire funds — an unrestricted source for funding barrier island needs.
“We have a lot of things on our plate and not much cash,” Whitmore said. “Bring us projects.”
County Commissioner Vanessa Baugh suggested sending lobbyists to Tallahassee to press legislators to be more lenient with tourist tax dollars.
“It’s going to take an act of God, but you could possibly get that to happen,” Baugh said. “Help us help you.”
Johnson said the mayors did not attend the workshop to say “just give us money.” Their goal is to discuss easing restrictions on funding sources.
“Where are the places around the county that the status quo is due to be changed?” Johnson asked, referring to a need for balance throughout the county.
In conclusion, the county commissioners thanked the mayors for attending and expressing their concerns.
Steve Jonsson, newly elected Manatee County commissioner for District 3, which includes the barrier islands, said he supports the mayors’ efforts.
“I’m your representative out there now and I think we need to keep these lines of communication open,” Jonsson said. “Do it project by project if necessary, but it’s imperative upon the county commission to take these questions seriously.”