Mosaic, yes or no!

Recently our city has made a decision to accept money from The Mosaic people for naming rights in our new waterfront park. Their name will be listed for the Amphitheater. We have had a few people complain about us doing it so I thought I would place my thoughts in my Blog.
First of all I want people to know what the real problem is in the city. We, as most city have been hit very hard by the economic situation that plagues our country. The biggest problem is re-estate values have plunged to an all out bottom. That has cause the evaluations to drop quickly and drastically. We (the city council) have the responsibility to continue to run the city and provide the services that our citizens expect and deserve. Keeping in mind that our tax revenues keep dropping but our expenses have increased. That is a hard scale to balance, we do not take enough tax dollars to cover the expense of the Fire and Police depts. Tax revenue is the only real area that we can control....raise taxes....! Our budget is over $95 million and our tax revenue is a little over $12 million.

We look hard to get funding for everything that we feel needs to be done. We try very hard to keep the burden off the tax payers. The Mosaic people have stepped up in the community to help. After careful consideration the council and Mayor voted 3-2 to accept funding from them. You will see by the list below we are not the only people. Thank goodness we have an organization who is willing to help.

Meals On Wheels PLUS (Including Food Bank of Manatee) – Annual Corporate Sponsor & Grant Recipient (they also try to volunteer stocking shelves in the fall)

Downtown Bradenton Farmer’s Market – Annual Sponsor

Downtown Winter Wonderland – Sponsor & Participant (with our Fossil Fun Zone)

United Way of Manatee County – Annual Corporate Sponsor (Next Friday a group of volunteers will also help rehab the Downtown office..with landscaping, repaired sprinkler system & pressure washing the building so Publix can come in behind us and paint.)

South Florida Museum – Annual Corporate Sponsor

Manatee EDC – Sponsor

Manatee Chamber – Annual Sponsor

 

Manatee Education Foundation – Annual Corporate Sponsor ($10,000 in teacher scholarships)

----as a side note:  In the last year partnerships with several organizations have made it possible for them to treat EVERY 4^th grader in Manatee County to a field trip to the Florida Aquarium in Tampa, all expenses paid,  PLUS a live-conversation with folks at Mote through it’s Sea Trek program.

----This year they are also treating 4^th graders at Tillman & another school to a field trip to our Coastal Ed Center on Tampa Bay.

They also offered to cover the transportation costs for Bayshore Elementary to travel to Selby Gardens.

 

Manatee Fairgrounds – Annual Sponsor (Mosaic Arena)(note..this is not a contract but rather an annual sponsorship of $15,000 – raised to $15,000 from $10,000 just this year)

Manatee County Youth Livestock Sale

Manatee 4H – Sponsor

Manatee FFA - Sponsor

Red Cross – Corporate Sponsor

American Cancer Society – Participant & Sponsor for Myakka City Relay

Myakka Elementary School – Business Partner

Myakka City Community Center – Business Partner & Grant Recipient

Duette Elementary School – Business Partner (our staff at Four Corners regularly helps staff with repairs & materials)

Duette Fire Department – Community Business Partner

North Manatee Storm – Grant Recipient

Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club Annual Winefest – Sponsor

Manatee Animal Services – No Kill Donor

Sheriff PAL Classic – Sponsor

Suncoast Foundation – Event Sponsor

Parrish Chili Cook-Off – Event Sponsor

 

Have a Blessed week and be a Blessing to someone.

 

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” -Romans 5:3-4