SARASOTA COUNTY KEEPS MILLAGE FLAT

SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON TUESDAY VOTED TO KEEP THE COUNTY’S MILLAGE RATE FLAT DESPITE SOME $40 MILLION DOLLARS LESS IN REVENUES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR.  COMMISSIONER JOE BARBETTA SAYS THAT SHOULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR A MAJORITY OF COUNTY RESIDENTS.  COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DAVID BULLOCK SAYS GOOD PLANNING IS THE REASON WHY COMMISSIONERS DIDN’T HAVE TO GO TO TAXPAYERS WHEN REVENUES CONTINUE TO DROP AS THEY HAVE A RESERVE WHICH COULD LAST UNTIL 2014 IF THINGS DON’T IMPROVE. BULLOCK SAYS THE COUNTY HAS TWEAKED THINGS JUST A BIT TO HELP SAVE SOME BUCKS TOO, SUCH AS REDUCING LIBRARY AND PARK HOURS.  COMMISSIONERS WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS IN SEPTEMBER TO PASS THE BUDGET AT WHICH TIME THE MILLAGE RATE CAN BE REDUCED, BUT NOT RAISED.  TRUTH IN MILLAGE NOTICES WILL BE SENT TO HOMEOWNERS IN AUGUST.