County Commits $2 Million in Tourist Tax Funds to Rebuild Anna Maria City Pier Walkway
Manatee County Commissioners have approved up to $2 million in tourist development tax revenues to help the City of Anna Maria rebuild the hurricane-damaged City Pier walkway, advancing a key recovery project while leaving questions about a future ferry stop unresolved.
During their Feb. 10 meeting, the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners voted 6-1 in favor of the funding request, with Commissioner Amanda Ballard casting the lone dissenting vote. The funds will assist the city in replacing the walkway destroyed by Hurricane Milton in October 2024 and addressing damage to the pier’s surviving structures.
The total cost to reconstruct the walkway and remediate flooding, mold and other storm-related impacts is estimated between $7.1 million and $7.8 million. State and federal funding sources will supplement the county’s contribution.
Tourist Tax Dollars at Work
The county’s $2 million allocation will come from the 6% tourist development tax levied on short-term stays in hotels, motels, resorts and vacation rentals. According to Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione, the proposal was reviewed last June by the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, which recommended approval.
Falcione emphasized that the funding would be derived entirely from tourist tax proceeds. District 3 Commissioner Tal Siddique noted that the investment also addresses long-standing concerns that the Island cities, which generate a significant share of tourism revenues, do not always receive proportional reinvestment.
Ferry Stop Not Guaranteed
Despite approving the funding, commissioners acknowledged that no written agreement currently guarantees the installation of a future Gulf Islands Ferry stop at or near the rebuilt pier.
Before the storms, the public boat landing at the T-end of the City Pier served as a stop for the county-backed Gulf Islands Ferry system, which launched in January 2024 with two 49-passenger open-air pontoon boats operating between the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier and the Bradenton Beach Pier.
Today, the ferry continues to operate as a two-point system between downtown Bradenton and Bradenton Beach while discussions about restoring service to Anna Maria continue.
Commissioners George Kruse and Siddique cautioned that failure to reach an agreement on a future ferry landing could strain intergovernmental relationships. They stressed that the county has invested significant financial and political capital into the ferry system and expects cooperation from municipal partners.
Mayor Mark Short addressed commissioners prior to the vote, affirming the city’s willingness to continue working with the county on identifying a feasible ferry landing location. However, he explained that permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection require the new walkway to be rebuilt within the exact footprint of the previous structure. As a result, a ferry landing cannot be incorporated into the current reconstruction and would require a separate future project.
Falcione indicated that the Anna Maria ferry landing remains beyond the design phase and may not materialize until after 2027. He estimated the ferry landing project could cost the county at least another $1 million.
Third Ferry Set to Launch
Meanwhile, the county is preparing to introduce a third, larger ferry vessel into service. Funded last year with $3 million in tourist tax revenues, the new boat features an enclosed passenger area and weighs approximately 100,000 pounds — significantly heavier than the existing 30,000-pound pontoon vessels.
The floating dock near the Bradenton Beach Pier has been upgraded to accommodate the new vessel. Falcione said the third ferry is expected to begin operations soon between the Bradenton Riverwalk Pier and the Bradenton Beach Pier.
Recent windy weekends have underscored the need for a more robust vessel, as rough conditions limited the use of the open-air pontoons. Officials view the enclosed ferry as critical to improving service reliability and continuing efforts to ease traffic congestion on Anna Maria Island.
As reconstruction of the Anna Maria City Pier moves forward, county and city leaders say maintaining a cooperative partnership will be essential to restoring both the historic pier and expanded ferry access for residents and visitors alike.
