County Adopts Strategic Plan, 2026 Priorities
By Lisa Neff
Manatee County commissioners are looking ahead to 2026 as the new year approaches.
In December 2025, commissioners adopted the county’s first organization wide strategic plan, setting a vision, mission and series of goals intended to guide growth and preservation in the years ahead.
“It’s clear, concise and gives us direction,” said Commissioner George Kruse, whose term as chair was to end Jan. 1, with the transfer of the gavel to Commissioner Tal Siddique, District 3. “Now it’s up to everyone to follow the direction.”
Commissioners workshopped the plan in early December and later voted 5-1 to adopt it, along with priorities for 2026.
The mission statement in the strategic plan is “to serve our residents, visitors and businesses by protecting our diverse landscapes while making balanced, transparent decisions and providing exceptional county services. We value innovative solutions, fiscal responsibility and an informed and involved public.”
The vision for the area is described as a “thriving community where beaches, cities and rural areas come together” with the goal “to continue to make Manatee County the premier place to live, work and play.”
Six core goals address land management and development policy, transportation and infrastructure, government efficiency and transparency, public safety and environmental protection, economic and tourism development, and veterans and public services.
“The strategic plan is more than a vision statement. It is a working roadmap for implementation and measurement,” said Stephanie Garrison, the county’s government relations director.
“Departments across the organization will use this framework to coordinate actions, track performances and report progress, helping residents understand not just what the county is doing but why,” she added.
Top priorities include:
• Land management and development policy: Modernize the county comprehensive plan and land development code to support strategic growth and infill and protect rural areas, as well as streamline development review, permitting and fee structures.
• Transportation and infrastructure: Improve resiliency and capacity of transportation, stormwater and utility infrastructure in high-growth, flood-prone areas, as well as delivery road, bridge and multimodal projects that reduce congestion and improve safety.
• Government efficiency and transparency: Strengthen long-range financial planning, budgeting and debt management, as well as increase transparency and public understanding of finances and capital projects.
• Public safety and environmental protection: Strengthen preparedness, response and capabilities for storms and public safety emergencies, as well as protect and restore natural systems, watersheds and coastal resources.
• Economic and tourism development: Leverage tourism, sports, arts and culture to increase visitor spending and year-round economic activity, as well as ensure publicly funded programs and projects deliver results for residents.
• Veterans and public services: Expand coordinated services that support veterans, families and vulnerable residents, as well as strengthen education, outreach and engagement to connect residents to county resources.
During the workshopping process, commissioners identified countywide goals but also district priorities.
Commissioner Carol Ann Felts, District 1, said she wanted a more targeted range of businesses to bolster the agricultural and agritourism sectors.
Representing District 2, Commissioner Amanda Ballard endorsed programming for the Mixon Fruit Farms property, which the county purchased in 2025 for a library, park and community gardens.
Siddique, from District 3, suggested updating the land development code to eliminate minimum lot sizes and parking ratios.
District 4 Commissioner Mike Rahn focused on development in the urban core and workforce housing.
Commissioner Bob McCann of District 5 prioritized Lorraine Road.
At-large Commissioner Jason Bearden said infrastructure should come first, including prioritizing capacity expansions and safety upgrades on Lorraine, Buckeye and Moccasin Wallow roads.
Kruse, also an at-large commissioner, prioritized using technology for efficiency and targeting businesses that bolster agricultural and agritourism.
The next step in executing the strategic plan involves developing action plans within each department and establishing a system to track progress.
Online:
Read more about Manatee County’s strategic planning, including the full document, at mymanatee.org/strategy.