For nearly five decades, the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office operated under a single administration.
Longevity can create stability.
But only when systems evolve alongside the communities they serve.
When I took office in January 2025, I initiated a third-party auditor’s comprehensive review of operations: technology, financial controls, compliance procedures and organizational structure.
What was uncovered is not a single oversight or isolated error.
It was a pattern of outdated systems and insufficient oversight that had persisted for years.
As I mentioned in a recent presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, it was like walking into a museum with office hours.
I am witnessing an organization that seemed to have been frozen in time – and not in a charming, nostalgic way.
Outdated technology
Sarasota County is one of only two tax collector offices in Florida still operating on a legacy software platform most jurisdictions replaced long ago.
Core computer servers had exceeded their recommended life cycles.
Backup systems lacked the redundancy now considered standard in public-sector cybersecurity.
In today’s environment, that is not simply outdated – it is a risk.
Tax collectors handle sensitive financial and personal data.
Modern infrastructure is not optional. It is foundational to public trust. We have quickly begun to modernize aging systems, strengthen cybersecurity protections and ensure service continuity for residents.
Financial controls under scrutiny
Our review also identified long-standing inconsistencies in financial procedures.
Preliminary findings show that “excess” disbursements and fee calculations did not consistently align with Florida law.
The Florida Retirement System has directed corrective action dating back to 1989.
Certain transactions, prior to January 2025, are under review by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement – and we are cooperating fully.
Retroactive corrections spanning decades do not occur in a system with strong internal controls.
Taxpayers deserve confidence that every dollar is calculated and distributed precisely as required by law.
That confidence must be earned through verification, not assumption.
Oversight didn’t keep pace
I have been careful to separate the workforce from the leadership failures above them.
The issue was not the dedication of employees.
The professionals serving residents each day did not design legacy systems – they worked within them.
The problem was structural.
When oversight mechanisms do not evolve, problems multiply.
When leadership goes unchallenged for decades, processes can become insulated from scrutiny.
That environment has changed.
We’ve taken action
In our first year, we have:
These steps are not symbolic. They are corrective.
Accountability and transparency
Public offices exist to serve the public – not to operate on autopilot.
Transparency is not an event; is a discipline.
Sarasota County taxpayers are now receiving a clear assessment of how their office operated and how it is being strengthened.
Some findings have required serious attention.
Ignoring them was not even considered as an option.
Addressing them is responsible.
We are committed to ensuring the future operates differently.
Modern systems.
Clear financial controls.
Continuous oversight.
This is what accountability looks like.
And this is what this office will deliver.
Mike Moran is the tax collector of Sarasota County. He was elected in November 2024.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County deserve a top tax office. We will deliver it | Opinion
Reporting by Mike Moran Guest columnist, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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