A Forward, From Ken
After reading through the many emails I have received, I felt compelled to write a personal response.
I, myself, am a proud product of the Manatee County School District, having graduated from Palmetto High School. My mother and father-in-law both worked and retired from the School District. I was fortunate to have mentors like Gene Witt and Virgil Mills, both of whom were friends and made a lasting impact on my life growing up. My wife Shelly’s grandfather was a School Board member, and his name remains prominently displayed at Southeast High School.
I’ve called games with the Palmetto High football broadcast for 14 seasons and was a volunteer coach in the 1980’s. Pat Barber, longtime Manatee Education Association President, was my 8th grade English teacher - and she was wonderful.
Many members of my team also graduated from schools in the School District and now have children of their own enrolled in our local schools. They volunteer their time, support school events and fundraisers, and many have spouses who have devoted their careers to public education in this community.
Let me be very clear that this is not about taking funds from hardworking teachers and staff, nor is it about taking funds from school programs. Instead, this is about following the letter of the law as it is written.
As a Constitutional Officer, I take an oath every four years to faithfully perform the duties of the Tax Collector, and I will uphold that oath. It may not be everyone’s idea of a dream job, but it has certainly been an honor and a privilege for me to serve in this role for 33 years.
With the above in mind, I hope that the following information helps set the record straight and clarify the questions that my staff and I have received over the past several days.
Setting the Record Straight: What is the School District Voted Millage Commission?
It is important to clear up some of the confusion about the commission collected on the Manatee County School District’s voted millage. Recent news reports, statements, and social media posts have included incorrect information, and our neighbors in Manatee County deserve clear and honest answers, based on the facts.
Under Florida Law the Manatee County Tax Collector is authorized to receive a small commission on most taxes we collect for others, including the voted School District millage. This commission is not something that was created by this office, but was established by the Florida Legislature, through Florida Statutes, to fund the daily operations and costs incurred in the collection of taxes. This commission has always been applied to the voted millage since its inception in 2018, and is a standard practice of many other Tax Collectors in Florida.
To help explain things simply, here are answers to the most common questions we’ve been hearing:
Who says the Tax Collector can charge a commission?
Florida law – specifically Florida Statute 192.091 – provides that Tax Collectors are to receive a commission for the collection of taxes on behalf of all taxing authorities, including School Districts. In Manatee County, we retain a 2% commission on the voted School District millage. As constitutional officers, Tax Collectors are also held, by oath, to uphold these laws.
Who made this rule?
The Florida Legislature created the law (not our office). It applies to all 67 Tax Collectors across the state of Florida.
Do other Tax Collectors in Florida collect a commission on their voted School District millage?
Yes. Despite what’s being said online and in other statements, many Tax Collectors across the state of Florida also collect this same commission from their School Districts when collecting the voted millage, as outlined in Florida Statute 192.091(4). Other Tax Collectors have been collecting this commission in their counties long before the voted millage passed in Manatee County in 2018.
Do any other local entities pay a commission on their millage or is the Tax Collector charging only the School District?
All taxing authorities, such as your local fire districts, libraries, children’s services, parks, and more, are also subject to the commissions determined by the Florida Legislature. Commissions are certainly not unique to the School District millage.
Can you reconsider the commissions for the voted School District millage?
Our office greatly values and appreciates the dedication and services of the teachers and staff of our Manatee County schools. However, the Tax Collector does not have the authority to grant an exception to Florida law to any entity. In short - this law was not created by the Tax Collector, nor is it something that our office can simply “reconsider”.
What does the Tax Collector do with commissions received?
The Manatee County Tax Collector is a fee-based office, which means everything in our budget is funded by the fees and commissions authorized in Florida Statutes. The purpose of these fees and commissions is to cover our operational costs. This is not a windfall or profit-making endeavor, but rather makes it possible for our office to carry out our duties and responsibilities on behalf of the taxing authorities, School District, and other agencies we partner with.
The fees and commissions we retain for our annual budget cover the cost of many things, such as:
- Printing and mailing 550,000+ tax bills, vehicle renewal notices, etc.
- Staffing team members and leveraging technology to efficiently serve 275,000+ in-person customers
- Operating 4 offices to serve our neighbors throughout the county
- Processing hundreds of thousands of online transactions
- Maintaining and updating secure systems to collect and process over $2 Billion on behalf of 80+ districts and agencies
Do you use all of the commission money? If not, what happens to it?
We don’t use all of the money. Thanks to our operational efficiency, we’re able to return millions of dollars in unused revenue/commissions to the applicable taxing authorities at the end of each fiscal year. In simple terms: what we don’t spend - we give back. This includes the School District, which is expected to receive an estimated $350,000 to $550,000 of the $1.5 million in commissions that were collected pursuant to Florida Statutes.
Was this commission a new charge?
No. A commission has always been charged on the voted millage for the School District. After an internal review in 2024, our office made a necessary correction to comply with Florida Statute 192.091(4), which requires the commission on the voted millage to be paid by the School District. Florida Statutes also provide the amount of the commission to be paid. In prior years, the commission was charged to the Board of Manatee County Commissioners, along with the other non-voted School District millages.
What if I don't agree with the commissions being collected?
The commissions are established by Florida law, and can only be changed by the Florida Legislature. If you’d like to support a change, we encourage you to contact your state legislators, who represent your voice in Tallahassee.
Our office remains committed to open and collaborative communication with the School Board and all local partners. Although the statutory requirements are in place and have been in place for quite some time now, we recognize the value in strengthening future conversations with all local partners to ensure greater clarity and to promote a shared understanding moving forward.