County Commissioners today unanimously approved major updates to the infrastructure sales tax spending plan that will pave the way for a new library in East Manatee, an animal shelter to replace the aging Animal Services facility in Palmetto, pickleball courts at G.T. Bray Park and more.
Today’s action also creates more funding for the Lincoln Park community pool and for street improvements at 60th Avenue East, the crowded road leading to the Ellenton Premium Outlets. All together the Board approved nearly $23 million in modified funding from the voter-approved half-cent for infrastructure.
“The good news is, we have the funding and we have the capability to move these things forward now rather than later,” said Commissioner Betsy Benac. Later she added, “We’re supposed to use the Infrastructure Sales Tax to repair and replace older facilities and we need to replace our animal shelter…I know how much animal issues mean to our community.”
Today’s vote means:
- $8 million in funding for a new Manatee County Animal Services Shelter tentatively planned for a vacant County-owned parcel off State Road 64 north of the Lena Road Landfill. The vote triggers a new fundraiser by the Animal Network to raise another $2 million for future improvements to the new shelter.
- $2.9 million for pickleball courts at G.T. Bray district park.
- An addition of $2 million for Lincoln Pool.
- $6.6 million for the East County library tentatively planned for the County’s Premier Sports Complex.
All of the funding changes come within the infrastructure sales tax which brings in about $25 million each year to unincorporated Manatee County.
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