Sarasota County budget discussions conclude with minimal reductions, facing upcoming $600K school expense.

Budget Discussions Fail to Yield Cuts

On Tuesday, commissioners convened for an extensive four-hour meeting to address the budgets of constitutional officers, resulting in no significant cuts beyond initial proposals. The county’s spending is projected to exceed $2.5 billion in FY 2026, following years of budget increases.

Notably, the sheriff’s office and tax collector’s departments, which are responsible for the largest budget increases, opted not to attend, leaving commissioners hesitant to demand further reductions. Tax Collector Mike Moran announced an increase in his budget, exceeding earlier projections, while revealing a longstanding error that will cost the county nearly $600,000 for tax collection services owed to Sarasota County Schools.

In light of the lack of progress, commissioners pledged to revise the budget process in the coming year, initiating workshops in February and capping budget increases at 1.6%, down from the long-term average of 5.9%. Commissioner Ron Cutsinger emphasized the importance of setting realistic financial expectations.

No Requests for Cuts from Department Heads

The workshop was prompted by the discovery of an impending deficit, leading to an unplanned fifth session. Despite calls for budget trimming, few concessions were made. State Attorney Ed Brodsky argued for two additional positions and agreed to compromise on funding for one and a half extra roles after he reduced his request. He highlighted the increased responsibilities stemming from specialty courts.

Chief Medical Examiner Russell Vega justified an 8.7% budget increase based on lease and property tax obligations that would dissolve after the county purchases the building. Meanwhile, Public Defender Larry Eger, who is seeking a 10% budget increase, faced no questions from commissioners.

Sheriff’s and Tax Collector’s Budgets Under Scrutiny

Over the past five years, the average budget request from elected officials has risen by at least 6%, primarily driven by the sheriff’s office, which has seen a $90 million increase. Commissioner Tom Knight expressed skepticism about actual spending cuts being realized, stressing the need for proactive measures.

Moran’s failure to propose a reduction in the funds returned to the county raised concerns. Typically, the tax collector has returned $15 to $20 million yearly, but he has indicated that no funds will be returned in the future. Furthermore, Moran informed both the county administrator and the school superintendent of a 23-year error that mandated the county cover costs for collecting school district taxes—costs now to be borne by the district itself.

Next Steps for Budget Oversight

Sheriff Kurt Hoffman, who did not attend the workshop, proposed the largest budget cut from his over $220 million budget, a 1% reduction. Knight was alone in advocating a more aggressive stance for budget reductions. The meeting ended without significant dialogue on potential budget adjustments.

Commissioners universally supported the new budget caps for FY 2027 and 2028-2030, which could help eliminate future shortfalls and rebuild reserves. However, the challenges of balancing spending and meeting increasing demands persist.

Key Information

• Date of meeting: Tuesday
• Proposed county spending for FY 2026: Over $2.5 billion
• Commissioners supported a budget cap of 1.6% for FY 2027, 3.6% for FY 2028-2030
• Constitutional officers’ attendance: Sheriff’s office and tax collector absent from discussions
• Key issues raised: Tax Collection costs and budget growth trends
• Historical budget increases: Average requests of at least 6% over the past five years

This story was produced by Suncoast Searchlight, a nonprofit newsroom of the Community News Collaborative serving Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties. Learn more at suncoastsearchlight.org.