Manatee County Commissioners Approve $2.5 Million Reimbursement to School District for Withheld Tax Collection Funds
The Manatee County Commission unanimously voted Tuesday to reimburse the School District of Manatee County more than $2.5 million that had been withheld from a voter-approved property tax, ending a dispute over who should pay the administrative costs of collecting the tax.
The decision returns all of the revenue generated by the voter-approved property tax to the school district after years of disagreement over collection fees. While Manatee County had historically covered those costs, beginning in 2024, some Florida tax collectors, including Manatee County’s, maintained that school districts should instead pay the administrative expenses, reducing the amount of money available for education.
The reimbursement follows the passage of state legislation sponsored by State Rep. James Buchanan, R-Sarasota, which clarified that tax collectors may either waive collection fees or charge county governments, but cannot charge school districts. Although the law resolves how collection costs will be handled moving forward, it does not address funds previously withheld.
As a result, the Manatee County Commission considered whether to reimburse the school district for the more than $2.5 million retained by the Tax Collector’s Office. Commissioners approved the reimbursement after a brief discussion.
During the meeting, Commissioners Bob McCann and George Kruse questioned whether county government should assume the expense and discussed the county’s existing financial support for public schools, including funding for crossing guards and school resource officers.
Siddique said the reimbursement would come from excess revenue returned by the Tax Collector’s Office to the county’s general fund after tax collection expenses had been paid. He also noted that existing interlocal agreements cover other education-related costs and said those agreements could be revisited in the future if necessary, particularly if proposed changes to Florida’s homestead exemption affect local government revenues.
Despite raising questions during the discussion, both McCann and Kruse joined the remaining commissioners in voting in favor of the reimbursement.
Following the vote, School District Superintendent Laurie Breslin said the restored funding would support the district’s continued progress and create additional opportunities for student success.
School Board Chair Cindy Spray also addressed the commission, highlighting the district’s recent accomplishments, including a 90% graduation rate, and thanked commissioners for approving the reimbursement, saying the funds would help support classrooms and teachers.