Bradenton Beach Approves Fee Increases to Address $350K Budget Shortfall from Hurricane Tax Exemptions
BRADENTON BEACH – In response to a $350,000 budget shortfall caused by a decline in property tax revenue following post-hurricane exemptions, city commissioners have unanimously approved a series of new revenue measures that include higher fees for short-term rental licenses, building department services, and parking violations.
City Treasurer Shayne Thompson explained that the shortfall stems from a Florida statute allowing homeowners to request property tax exemptions if they are unable to inhabit their property for 30 days or more due to storm-related damage. Manatee County saw 11,000 such exemptions this year, resulting in a 14% drop in ad valorem revenue for Bradenton Beach.
To close the gap without raising taxes, Thompson proposed a multi-pronged strategy focused on user-based fees. One major change involves restructuring the city’s Transient Public Lodging Establishment (TPLE) license fees, which have not been updated since 2017.
Under the new structure, the base annual fee will remain $150 for properties with up to four occupants. However, each additional occupant will cost $100 more per year. With an average occupancy of seven, the average license will now cost around $450 annually. Thompson emphasized that the updated fees aim to shift the financial burden toward larger, high-occupancy vacation rentals—often referred to as “party houses”—which place greater strain on city infrastructure and services.
Of the city’s 561 TPLE licenses, 192 properties house four occupants or fewer. Hotels and motels will remain exempt from the fee change.
Thompson also addressed updates to the city’s building department fees. Although the last revision was made in 2022, the city has since added more staff, and the department is legally allowed to maintain reserves of up to two years of operating expenses. With the end of a temporary moratorium on hurricane-related fee waivers, additional charges—like a $500 fine for a stop work order and $1,000 for repeat violations, similar to those in Holmes Beach—will be added to help rebuild reserves.
To further bolster city finances, parking ticket fines will increase from $75 to $100.
Thompson stressed the importance of maintaining a healthy reserve, especially in the face of future storms, and reiterated that the new fees are designed to restore financial balance without raising taxes. Commissioners agreed, voting unanimously to implement the changes as part of the city’s 2025-26 budget.
The new fee structure is expected to help the city meet its statutory obligation to maintain a balanced budget while restoring reserves to better prepare for future emergencies.