Sarasota County Schools clawed back more than $2 million that the county tax collector withheld as fees for collecting a voter-approved school tax.
But other school districts, including Sarasota’s neighbor to the north, have taken a different approach — with different results. Some elected leaders in Manatee may now be regretting that tactic.
Manatee County Schools has been facing the same battle for funding since 2024, when its tax collector similarly began charging the district to collect a voter-approved property tax that provides funding for athletics, teacher retention and school operations…