Manatee County Commissioners Focus on Fiscal Oversight Following State Audit Criticism

Manatee County Commissioners met Tuesday for the first time since the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight released its audit, which cited the county for overspending by $112 million. The report, announced by Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingolia, labeled Manatee County as the worst-performing local government his department has reviewed to date.

While the topic was not immediately discussed during the meeting, concerns about accountability and efficiency underpinned much of the discussion. Commissioners emphasized the importance of ensuring transparency and careful management of public funds.

Commissioner Bob McCann said the county must maintain public confidence by tracking how taxpayer dollars are used, while Commissioner Jason Bearden suggested lowering taxes before considering any new fees. Commissioner Amanda Ballard acknowledged the need to strengthen fiscal practices and praised the ongoing work of the Government Efficiency Liaison Committee, a citizen-led panel formed in May to identify potential cost-saving measures.

Committee Chair Mark Stanoch briefed the board on the group’s recent activities, noting that members have identified three areas of focus: the county’s tourist tax, grant processing, and purchasing policies. Stanoch said the committee is prioritizing a detailed, bottom-up review to bring factual data and practical recommendations to county leadership.

He also noted that while Manatee County has expanded its workforce by 472 employees over the past five years, some of those positions are grant-funded, and 61 were added within the Sheriff’s Office during the last budget cycle.

Ingolia’s audit did not specify particular line items of concern but broadly criticized the county’s spending trends. County leaders indicated they would await further clarification while continuing internal evaluations through the citizen committee and staff reviews.

The Government Efficiency Liaison Committee’s next public meeting is scheduled for October 28. The group also announced an open seat for one additional Manatee County resident interested in serving.