BRADENTON — During a recent budget meeting, commissioners were presented with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Interim Chief Financial Officer Claudia Campos outlined the $280.2 million request before commissioners discussed the proposal and engaged Sheriff Rick Wells on several aspects of the budget and some department operations.
The proposed budget represents an increase of approximately $11.9 million over the sheriff’s adopted FY26 budget of $269 million.
The county’s General Fund is the primary funding source for the sheriff’s budget. The sheriff’s budget accounts for nearly 42% of the county’s total General Fund expenditures, making it one of the largest individual appropriations commissioners consider each year. Funding allocated to the sheriff’s office represents approximately 29 cents of every property tax dollar collected, second only to the Manatee County School Board, which receives approximately 50 cents of every tax dollar collected. Capital expenses within the sheriff’s budget are funded separately through impact fees…