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This Week in Local Government

Written by on Sunday, July 27, 2025

On Tuesday, the Manatee County Commission will discuss state pre-emption, land purchase from Mixon Fruit Farm, and new rules to ride bicycles, and appoint the members of a newly created local DOGE task force. It’s budget season – multiple workshops by the City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, and for the Manatee and Sarasota school boards.

 

Monday (07/28)

City of Sarasota Commission budget workshop 1 (agenda)

Highlights: Presentation of proposed budget for 2025-26, by department and fund.

9:00 AM

City Hall, city commission chambers, 1565 First Street, Sarasota

 

Tuesday (07/29)

Manatee County Commission regular meeting (agenda)

Highlights: Port Authority meeting; changing background screening procedures for safety and security jobs; no heavy trucks on Lena Road; new requirements to ride bicycles in public; raising fees for phosphate mining applications; adopting the 2025-26 Manatee County Action Plan; appointing five members to a new, local DOGE task force; purchase of Mixon Fruit Farm land in west Bradenton; purchasing a 10-acre property on Rye Road for preservation; discussion of state pre-emption of local government; establishing a form-based code.

9:00 AM

Manatee County Administration Building, chambers, 1112 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton

 

City of Sarasota Commission budget workshop 2 (agenda)

Highlights: Continued presentation and discussion of proposed budget for 2025-26, by department and fund.

9:00 AM

City Hall, city commission chambers, 1565 First Street, Sarasota

 

Manatee County School Board workshop (agenda)

Highlights: Selection of semi-finalists and/or finalists in the search for the next school superintendent.

9:30 AM

Walter Miller School Support Center, board room, 215 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton

 

Public hospital board regular meeting (agenda)

Highlights: Medical staff reports; bad debts and charity care; financial highlights; acquiring property in the Medical Arts Building; North Port vertical expansion; Public Hospital District redistricting; CEO compensation philosophy; CEO’s report; public comment.

2:00 PM

Kolschowsky Research & Education Institute, 1st Floor Auditorium, 1880 Arlington Street, Sarasota

 

City of Sarasota Commission special budget meeting (agenda)

Highlight: Approval of preliminary millage rate for the City of Sarasota, for the Golden Gate Point Streetscape, and for the Downtown Improvement District for fiscal year 2025-26.

5:00 PM

City Hall, city commission chambers, 1565 First Street, Sarasota

 

Sarasota School Board public hearing (agenda)

Highlights: Amid shrinking student numbers and budget cuts, public comment about the tentative budget and millage rate. There will be a final public hearing Sept. 16.

5:00 PM

Landings Administrative Complex, 1980 Landings Boulevard, Sarasota

 

Manatee County School Board public hearing (agenda)

Highlights: Public hearing and approval of tentative budget and millage rates for 2025-26.

5;30 PM

Walter Miller School Support Center Board Room, 215 Manatee Ave. W, Bradenton

 

Wednesday (07/30)

City of Bradenton Council budget workshop (agenda)

Highlights: Presentation and discussion of tentative budget and millage for 2025-26.

8:30 AM

City Hall council chambers, 101 Old Main Street, Bradenton

 

Thursday (07/31)

None

 

Friday (08/01)

None