Who earns the most? See the salaries of Manatee County's highest-paid employees

Run by a seven-seat board of county commissioners, Manatee County has more than 2,000 public employees who work in jobs ranging from project engineers to procurement officials, custodians and attorneys. 

Manatee County approved a net $923.4 million budget and overall $2.15 billion budget for next fiscal year, with plans for major investments in transportation, infrastructure and public safety.

As part of the budget, commissioners approved a tax cut this year and set an operating millage rate of 6.3826, which represents a .05 reduction from last year's rate, amounting to an estimated $8.3 million tax cut.

Here’s a look at Manatee County’s top-paid employees:

Managing the mo:Manatee County finalizes $923 million budget with plans for transportation, infrastructure

For subscribers:For decades, Scott Hopes advocated for face masks. Now his hands are tied.

1. Scott Hopes, County Administrator $199,002

Hopes was hired as Manatee County administrator earlier this year, following a stint on the School Board and a career spanning decades in public health. Armed with an epidemiology degree, Hopes now must be one of the most uniquely qualified government officials in the state, perhaps the nation, for the pandemic.

But he’s battling COVID-19 outbreaks among staff, with four deaths, 133 coronavirus cases, and 315 exposures confirmed from contact tracing as of Sept. 5.

2. William E. Clague, County Attorney $187,013

The county’s top attorney, Clague was most recently in the news for his legal counsel after commissioners directed the county to send a letter to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody requesting her opinion on whether the county is allowed under state law to adopt an ordinance regulating abortion. 

“Before you get to the constitutional issues or all of the policy debates about it, you have to make sure your client has the legal authority to do what they want to do,” Clague said. “It’s much, much harder to defend if a judge says you don’t.”

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The rest of Manatee County's highest paid employees

3.) Charles H. Bishop, Deputy County Administrator and Director of Property Management, $175,001

4.) Janannette B. Brewer, Deputy County Administrator and CFO, $175,001

5.) Robert J. Reinshuttle,  Deputy County Administrator, $175,001

6.) Karen L. Stewart, Deputy County Administrator, $175,001

7.) Charles A. Hunsicker, Director of Parks and Natural Resources, $169,000

8.) Chad A. Butzow, Director of Public Works, $160,493

9.) Christopher M. Decarlo, Chief Assistant County Attorney,  $160,493

10.) Sarah A. Schenk, Chief Assistant County Attorney,  $160,493

11.) Charles M. Gore, Director of Utilities, $157,664

12.) John R. Barnott, Director of Building and Development Services, $152,069

13.) Geraldine C. Lopez, Director of Redevelopment and Economic Opportunity, $151,424

14.) Elliott J. Falcione, Director of The Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, $149,552

15.) Jacob A. Saur, Director of Public Safety, $141,336

SOURCE: Manatee County public records