Clerk Encourages Participation in Sunshine Week March 14 – 20, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010—Sunshine Week is about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why. Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to remind them that they have access to a wide variety of public information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger.
As Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller for Manatee County, R.B. “Chips” Shore serves as the custodian of public records for the courts and for the County, as clerk to the Board of County Commissioners and as Chief Financial Officer and Auditor of all County funds. Mr. Shore has also made it his career’s work to ensure that these records are made readily accessible to the public in the easiest and most cost effective manner possible. To that end and to promote governmental transparency, Shore has made information available to the public online and in accordance with Florida Statute.
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Demand for Passports Remains High
Tuesday, March 09, 2010—Passports aren’t just for travel to exotic locations anymore. With the Federal REAL ID Act that went into effect on January 1, 2010, the demand for passports remains at record high levels. A passport issued by the United States government is preferred proof of identity and of legal presence.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a processing agent for passport applications. In 2009, the Manatee County Clerk’s Office processed 5,220 passport applications. If you or a member of your family plans to apply for a passport, R. B. “Chips” Shore, Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court, offers these helpful tips:
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Manatee Clerk is First Florida Clerk Authorized to Provide Online Access to Images of Court Document
Monday, March 01, 2010—R.B. “Chips” Shore, Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, announced today that online access to images of many court documents is now available to the general public. This announcement kicks off the second and final phase of a pilot project approved by the Florida Supreme Court to re-establish the online access that was available prior to 2002.
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Manatee Heritage Days to be held March 1-31, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010—From March 1-31, 2010, the thirty-first annual Heritage Days celebration will focus on our county’s history. All month long, historical sites and organizations throughout our county will celebrate our community’s heritage by providing opportunities for our area’s residents and visitors to experience the past. Storytelling, reenactments, special exhibits and open houses will highlight the month’s events.
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Manatee County's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Available Online
Monday, January 11, 2010—R.B. "Chips" Shore announces that the County's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is available online for our citizens. Hard copies of the CAFR, plus the other financial reports prepared by the Clerk's office, will be available in 2010.Manatee County Receives Popular Financial Reporting Award
Thursday, October 22, 2009—For the 11th consecutive year, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has given the Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award to Manatee County for its Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008.
Read More....Message for our Customers
Effective June 1, 2009, the Legislature has imposed increases for filing fees and service charges to go to the state to fund various court functions. While the Clerks are required by law to collect these additional fees, they do not benefit your local Clerk’s office.
In addition, severe cuts recently made to Clerks’ budgets by the Florida Legislature have required significant reductions in personnel. As a result, you may experience longer processing and wait time for services from the office. Thank you for your patience and understanding.