In the past two years, a record-breaking number of tourists have visited Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.
The Manatee County barrier island municipalities — Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach and Longboat Key — are taking exception to the county’s budget to dole out revenue and are requesting additional funds for infrastructure and public works improvements.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon, Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson and Longboat Key Mayor Jack Duncan will present their needs Dec. 6 to the county commission.
The presentation will include a report of funding sources, costs and revenue for the barrier island cities.
According to a report of the city’s funding needs compiled by Longboat Key town manager Dave Bullock, “Barrier island populations are not growing, but the demands on their infrastructure are increasing, due to visitor populations.”
The report states day-trippers and seasonal visitors more than triple the resident population when averaged across the four cities and it shows a deficit of $73,610,548 for infrastructure and operating expenses over a 15-year period.
Infrastructure demands include public safety, transportation, parks and recreation, public buildings and beaches and waterways.
Currently, the cities receive infrastructure funding from gas tax revenues, stormwater permit revenues, Southwest Florida Water Management District grants, half-cent sales tax revenues and capital improvement funding through “other revenues.”
But the barrier island cities want the county to provide additional support.
According to the report, island municipalities — representing 2.7 percent of the county’s population — are the source of 58 percent of the tourist tax revenue.
“We compiled a report showing our shortfalls and we are asking for a 33 percent increase in funding to compensate for the tourist overload in our cities,” Shearon said. “The residents shouldn’t solely have to support infrastructure needs caused by increased tourism.”
The mayors will present their study to the county in a workshop at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the county chambers, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.