ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria has responded to a March 5 request for information from OPPAGA regarding the potential consolidation and annexation of the city into Manatee County.
The cities of Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach received similar requests from the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability that conducts research for the Florida Legislature.
Last year, OPPAGA initiated a consolidation study at the request of Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton), State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) and the other state legislators who are members of the Manatee County Legislative Delegation.
OPPAGA’s Island consolidation study originally included three possible options: Consolidating the three Island cities into one new city, consolidating and annexing all three cities into the city of Bradenton or not consolidating the cities but consolidating similar services provided by each Island city.
In November, the three cities submitted separate written responses to OPPAGA that addressed the benefits and challenges of each consolidation scenario.
On March 15, the city of Anna Maria submitted a written response to OPPAGA that addresses the additional option of consolidating Anna Maria into Manatee County and placing it under the control of the county and the Manatee County Commission.
BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
Regarding the benefits of the county consolidation option, the city response notes the city property taxes currently levied at a 2.05 millage rate would be eliminated. County consolidation would also eliminate the need for city-funded public works departments, building departments and law enforcement agencies.
Regarding the challenges posed by county consolidation, the Anna Maria response notes there would be an increased financial and administrative placed burden on the county, which last year only provided the city with $15,000 as part of the city’s $11.4 million annual budget.
County consolidation would result in the county assuming ownership and responsibility for the roads, the stormwater and drainage system and other infrastructure elements currently funded by the city and its taxpayers. The county would assume ownership and maintenance responsibilities associated with the city-owned City Pier and the city-owned property that provides rent-free space for The Center of Anna Maria Island.
The Anna Maria response claims county consolidation would result in the loss of existing environmental safeguards and the loss of the diversity and atmosphere the three distinctly different Island cities currently provide.
“This is what makes Anna Maria Island unique from any other barrier island in the state of Florida,” the response notes.
The response also notes the county consolidation option would result in the elimination of each of the three cities’ city charters and comprehensive plans – documents that currently limit building heights to three stories Island-wide.
“Loss of these plans has the potential to create a huge negative impact on the entire Island community,” the response notes.
The city response also notes consolidation would result in job losses for those currently employed by the city.
The response states many Anna Maria property owners, annual visitors, tourists and elected officials oppose consolidation and forced consolidation would be likely be met with strong and costly legal opposition.
