Bradenton Beach Holds Budget Workshop, Keeps Property Taxes Steady Amid Post-Storm Recovery
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners gathered on July 15 for a budget workshop to discuss preliminary plans for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The city is projecting total revenues of $5,652,680 and expenditures of $5,045,506, with no planned increase in property taxes.
Mayor John Chappie emphasized that this meeting was an early discussion, with two public budget hearings scheduled for September.
Bradenton Beach Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby explained the decision to keep the property tax rate unchanged despite an 11% drop in property values due to recent hurricanes. Instead of raising taxes, the city is implementing previously discussed fees to maintain revenue levels.
“We’ve decided this is the year to introduce the fees we’ve been discussing,” Cosby said, noting that city staff delayed capital improvements and vehicle purchases while awaiting further FEMA reimbursement.
The city received $1.1 million in FEMA assistance for storm-related expenses, and many of its damage claims are now in the final stages of approval. However, Bradenton Beach is still responsible for 12.5% of storm-related costs and has applied for a FEMA hardship adjustment to help ease that burden.
Treasurer Shayne Thompson reported that the proposed budget maintains the millage rate at 2.3329 and includes plans to restore approximately $320,000 to reserves depleted during storm recovery. Cosby stressed the importance of keeping reserves robust, especially for coastal communities, citing the city’s ability to withstand two back-to-back Category 3 hurricanes as a result of prior fiscal planning.
Commissioner Ralph Cole urged the city to seek increased support from Manatee County, particularly for policing, given the influx of visitors and high demand on public safety resources.
City employees will receive a 5% salary increase, maintaining the approach from last year of combining cost-of-living and merit adjustments.
The commission also reviewed proposed departmental expenditures, including:
Police: $2,131,795
Administration: $868,905
Planning: $527,618
Streets and Roads: $515,251
Stormwater: $242,026
Facilities: $144,010
Pier Operations: $155,770
Emergency Operations: $95,400
Commission: $188,157
Code Enforcement: $74,691
CRS (Community Rating System): $70,883
Sanitation: $2,500
Capital Projects & Reserves: $28,500
Final budget decisions will be made in September, with the public encouraged to attend the hearings.