Sarasota County commissioners scrutinized the proposed 2026-27 budget while anticipating the possible impact of a property tax amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot that could significantly reduce local property tax revenues.
The two consecutive days of budget workshops, June 16 and 17, confirmed that belt-tightening had eliminated a projected 2027-28 budget deficit, as county staff came in at or under the 1.6% growth limit for the 2026-27 fiscal year — with Sheriff Kurt Hoffman coming in at only a 1.5% increase.
That represented about $5 million in cuts.
The austerity push dates back to an Aug. 2025 budget workshop that projected that 2027-28 deficit partly because the post pandemic building boom was cooling.
Property tax referendum clouds financial future
That push became more urgent when state legislators decided to put a referendum on the November ballot that would expand Florida’s homestead exemption beginning in 2027 by exempting up to the first $150,000 of a primary home’s value from certain local property taxes, increasing to a $250,000 exemption in 2028 and then adjusting for inflation.
In 2018, Sarasota County and other local governments were contemplating the impact of two statewide ballot initiatives that would have impacted property tax revenues and the county pared back $5.4 million in existing spending in a painful cost-cutting workshop that included passionate discussions about libraries and parks.
Neither of the 2018 initiatives passed.
Sarasota County Administrator Jonathan Lewis said he hopes voters will weigh the potential effect on local government services before deciding on the proposal. He cited possible impacts on libraries, parks, law enforcement, retirement funding and public construction spending.
Lewis added that county officials have not yet seen the final ballot language.
Board discusses possible capital projects pause
Lewis’ observations came Wednesday, at the conclusion of a long day of discussions that saw commissioners discussing what active capital projects may be postponed if 60% of state voters do approve the expanded homestead exemption.
Nothing was officially postponed because no construction projects would begin before the November vote, though a proposed jail expansion and expansion of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office complex on Cattleridge Boulevard were characterized as needs that cannot be postponed.
Of note, Sarasota County’s new 124,000-square-foot Administration Center, located at 1 Apex Road, east of I-75 near Lakewood Ranch Boulevard, is closer to opening.
“Substantial completion is forthcoming,” Carolyn Eastwood, Sarasota County’s director of capital projects said. “People have been moving in stages.”
What’s next?
Tax Collector Mike Moran is among the constitutional officers scheduled to present a proposed budget to the Sarasota County Commission at its regular meeting on July 7.
Commissioners will also set the county millage rate at that meeting.
The millage is anticipated to stay flat at 3.3842 mills on that day.
One mill equals $1 in tax for every $1,000 of taxable property value.
The commission will also decide whether to keep a final August budget workshop or next address the budget at two adoption hearings in September.
Herald-Tribune Intern Michaela Galligan also contributed to this story.
Earle Kimel primarily covers local governments in Sarasota County as well as land development and environmental issues for the Herald-Tribune. Follow him on Facebook, and X. He can be reached by email at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County cuts $5M as property tax vote looms
Reporting by Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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By Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
