Manatee County consolidates

BRADENTON — Manatee County government will be consolidating some of its operations, taking four separate departments and combining them into just two entities. The moves are motivated by the need for fiscal austerity, as officials say property tax revenues could fall by as much as $14 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

First, what were once the Planning Department and the Building Department will now be combined to form the Building and Development Services Department. John Barnott will lead the new unit.

The new department will also take over a pair of tasks from other divisions: it will absorb the Transportation Systems Management division from Public Works, and the Code Enforcement division from Neighborhood Services.