BRADENTON — The Manatee County School District stands to lose nearly $1.5 million from its voter-approved, additional one mill school property tax after the Manatee County tax collector levied a 2% "commission" on the monies collected. School board members worry that the loss of funding will adversely impact teacher salaries and educational programs funded by the tax revenue.
Florida statute allows the tax collector to charge the 2% fee, and Manatee County Tax Collector Ken Burton says failure to do so was the result of an oversight. The commission has not been collected since the additional millage was approved in 2018 and reauthorized in 2021.
The tax brought in just under $75 million from October 2024 through June 2025. The charge represents 2% of this year's funding. School Board Chair Chad Choate told The Observer that the district received no warning from Burton that his office would begin collecting the commission this year.
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Dave
Who gets the money? Burton individually, the office operations?
Friday, July 11, 2025 Report this
kat.houston
Heartbreaking. What would Jesus do indeed. I sure know what he wouldn’t do. I thought we were a community. I believe the school district is the largest employer in Manatee county. Seems like shooting yourself in the foot. Sad
Friday, July 11, 2025 Report this
rjckeuka4
Not collected since 2018...an OVERSIGHT?? Some oversight!!!!!!!!! Who the hell is minding the store??
Friday, July 11, 2025 Report this
pattybeenutty
Why? o' why/? Would the county tax the education of our students? They should hang their heads in shame!
This is our school's money, not yours.
If you are so desperate for money, raise our property taxes so we can educate our kids as the blue states do!
Friday, July 11, 2025 Report this
FrstWordDr
So in the same year that the Federal Government withholds 6.9 Billion in funding for education for the State of Florida, Governor DeSantis elects to Veto millions from education funding, now our own tax collector decides it's a good idea to withhold MORE funding? How are our children supposed to get educated if there is no money to pay for their education. Or is that the idea?
Friday, July 11, 2025 Report this
vwaters
Would love to know who let Burton know about this oversight. Was it prompted by someone? Does the 2% apply to all public entities for which the tax collector collects money, or just the school district? Is there a scale or does everybody have to fork over 2% to pay for the collection service? Might the school district do better collecting the money itself? Surely would be less expensive, even if they had to hire several people for the task.
Friday, July 11, 2025 Report this