Manatee set to receive even more in oil spill dollars

MANATEE COUNTY – Charlie Hunsicker doesn't think the Deepwater Horizon disaster is the last time oil will threaten the gulf. When it does, Manatee County's director of Parks and Natural Resources wants the county's shoreline to be ready, and in that endeavor, every dollar counts.

"We're shooting for quality, not quantity," says Hunsicker. "When we do, we have to make some delicate choices where to spend the funding."

The county received $1.4 million earlier this year based on loss of revenue following the spill.

Now, the Gulf Coast Consortium will split another settlement (from BP sub-contractor Transocean) evenly among their 23 member counties, sending $12.4 million to Manatee over the next 15 years.