ANNA MARIA ISLAND – On Aug. 28, the three Anna Maria Island mayors received an OPPAGA-related letter from State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Bradenton) and State Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton).
Addressed to Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie, Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth, the two-page letter references the 25-page Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) study referred to locally as the “consolidation study.”
The letter begins by saying, “Over the past year, we’ve all worked through tremendous challenges as our communities continue recovering from the impacts of recent storms. We remain grateful for your leadership and for the dedication you’ve shown to your residents and businesses during these difficult times.
“As we prepare for the 2026 Legislative Session, we want to follow up on our previous correspondence concerning the OPPAGA study and the discussions we initiated last year about streamlining services and improving efficiencies among the three Island cities. We recognize that recovery efforts have demanded much of your attention, but these conversations remain critical for the residents and taxpayers of Anna Maria Island.”
OPPAGA study
On Jan. 9, the Island mayors and city commissioners were provided with copies of the 25-page OPPAGA study completed at the request of Robinson, Boyd and the other state legislators that make up the Manatee County Legislative Delegation.
The OPPAGA study analyzed four “Options for Restructuring Local Governance” but did not recommend a specific consolidation option to pursue. The four consolidation options were:
- “Leave Anna Maria Island structure as is;”
- “Combine the existing three cities on Anna Maria Island into one new city;”
- “Include the Island as part of unincorporated Manatee County;” and
- “Combine the three existing cities on Anna Maria Island with the city of Bradenton.”
The study also analyzed “Options for Streamlining Services” that might include consolidating some of the public services currently provided independently by all three Island cities, including law enforcement, public works, building departments and permitting services.
The completed OPPAGA study was accompanied by a two-page letter Robinson and Boyd sent the three Island mayors on Jan. 9.
Regarding the potential consolidation-related elimination of the existing height restrictions currently set forth in the Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach city charters (which can only be changed by the registered voters in those cities), the January Robinson-Boyd letter said, “Merging or eliminating cities could negatively impact the unique and special character of the Island and could have a detrimental impact on issues like building height.”
Instead of seeking the consolidation of the three cities, the legislator’s January letter urged city officials in all three cities to identify services that could be consolidated and streamlined in hopes of reducing property taxes for Anna Maria Island property owners.
August letter
Revisiting the consolidation of services, the Aug. 28 letter says, “Given the broader budget environment and the legislature’s continued emphasis on efficiency and accountability, we need a clearer understanding of where things stand before we move into the appropriations process in Tallahassee. Specifically, we would appreciate an update on:
“1. Any steps taken since the OPPAGA study to explore shared services or cost-saving measures.
“2. Efforts to coordinate operations across the three cities to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.
“3. How these priorities are reflected in your budgets and planning moving forward.
“As you know, the upcoming session will involve many competing priorities for state funding. While we remain committed to supporting Anna Maria Island and its recovery, we need to understand what progress has been made at the local level to ensure we are working toward the same goals.
“We respectfully request that you provide us with an update by October 1st, 2025, so we can consider these matters as we enter the appropriations process. We value your partnership and remain committed to preserving the unique character of Anna Maria Island while ensuring the responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
“Thank you for your continued leadership and service. We look forward to your timely response,” the letter signed by Robinson and Boyd says in conclusion.
The Manatee County Legislative Delegation will hold its annual meeting on Monday, Oct. 27 in the Bradenton City Commission chambers at 101 Old Main St. W. in downtown Bradenton from 8:30 a.m. to noon. The meeting is open to the public and provides the delegation members an opportunity to discuss their legislative intentions for the Florida Legislature’s 2026 legislative session.
