City of Sarasota's Proposed Budget

This link will take you to the City of Sarasota's proposed 2009-1010 Capital Improvement Plan. The next budget hearing is Sept. 21, at 6 pm, at City Hall.

Waldo Proffitt asks:

Is city of Sarasota necessary?

. . . city residents paid one-fifth of their annual property tax to be able to live within the city limits. That's hundreds of dollars or thousands of dollars, depending on the value of your house or condominium. Was it worth it?

The tangible benefits have become fewer and fewer over the years. The city has handed off its fire and emergency functions to the county, along with parks and recreation. The city provides water and sewer services and trash collection, but residents are billed for them each month and their cost does not come out of their property tax.

The city has a clerk and auditor and financial and record-keeping functions to support all city departments and activities and has its own planning and zoning department -- all of which are essential to the operation of any city, or indeed of any government of any size anywhere. None of these really have a claim on the affections of any city voter or stir up much emotion of any kind -- until something goes wrong.

None of them, singly or in total, justify paying 20 percent of your property tax bill to maintain a city. The only department that might do so is the Police Department, which is now the center of a bubbling controversy. More...

City's Budget Now Online

PROPOSED BUDGET AVAILABLE ONLINE

Sarasota, FL – The proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2009-10 is now available for review on the City of Sarasota website www.sarasotagov.com. An icon on the right side of the homepage links you directly to an executive summary as well as the complete proposed budget. A 30-minute television show devoted to the City’s financial state is also available atwww.sarasotagov.com. City Manager Robert Bartolotta hosts “City Focus” and provides an overview of the proposed budget with Finance Director Chris Lyons. The program is also being shown regularly on Access Sarasota, the government access channel, Comcast channel 19 and Verizon channel 34. Citizens will have an opportunity to provide input on the proposed budget Wed., July 15, 2009 at 6 pm in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1565 First Street. The public input session is being held prior to the City Commission’s budget workshops, when Commissioners begin the decision making process to establish the millage rate. There will be no formal staff presentation during the public input meeting. The budget workshops will be held Tues. July 21st and Wed. July 22nd 8 am – 5 pm in the Commission Chambers. The workshops are open to the public; however, public input will not be permitted at that time. Public input on the proposed budget will be heard Wed., July 15th.

Property values plummet

Assessments are down, but smaller tax bills are hardly a given

By DOUG SWORD

The assessed value of all properties in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties fell by a combined $20 billion last year, pushing the two-year drop in the area to an eye-popping $43 billion. More...

PUBLIC INPUT SOUGHT ON CITY BUDGET

Sarasota, FL - City Commissioners would like to hear your comments about the proposed fiscal year 2009-10 budget prior to the budget workshops when the Commission will begin the decision making process to set the millage rate. A public comment session on the proposed budget will be held Wed., July 15, 2009 at 6 pm in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1565 First Street.

Citizens will be given three minutes to comment on the proposed budget. There will be no formal staff presentation.

The proposed budget, including an executive summary, will be posted on the City's website, SarasotaGov.com, after 5pm on Thurs., July 9, 2009.

Jan Thornburg
City of Sarasota
Public Information Officer

Release
941-954-2613
941-650-9693 (Cell)
941-954-4113 (Fax)