Manatee County unveils $1.5 billion net FY27 tentative budget, $2.3B five‑year CIP

Manatee County CFO Claudia presented the tentative fiscal 2027 budget on Thursday, telling the Board the “tentative budget shows a total net budget of 1.5 billion dollars” and a $3.7 billion gross plan that includes capital, special districts and internal service funds.

Claudia said the five‑year capital improvement plan (CIP) for FY27–31 totals $2.3 billion, with FY27 capital investment of about $754.3 million covering 664 projects, 14 of them new. She told commissioners that transportation represents roughly 78.6% of the government‑side CIP, or about $624.6 million, while enterprise funds — primarily wastewater and potable water — account for the bulk of the enterprise side. “So the full five year plan … contains 664 projects,” she said.

The CFO explained the difference between gross and net budgets — the gross figure includes reserves, prior‑year carryforwards, internal service charges and special districts — and noted the net figure better reflects funding available for community services. She flagged revenue adjustments totaling roughly $116.5 million, including higher interest income and state revenue sharing, and added that the county’s property tax projection is about $524 million with about 71% flowing to the general fund.

Why it matters: the board must adopt tentative millage and budget figures at two public hearings before a final vote. Claudia reminded commissioners that advertising and certification deadlines constrain later changes, and staff walked through the board’s options for reducing millage before the next hearing on Sept. 24.