With the future of ad valorem taxes and the flow of federal dollars uncertain, Sarasota County Commissioner and former Sheriff Tom Knight recently sent staff on a summertime mission to review the status of the project list for the voter-approved Surtax IV, identify transportation plan priorities and present its analysis for discussion at the commission’s Aug. 21 budget workshop.
His three-part motion at the end of the July 6 commission meeting, which was approved unanimously, is intended to provide commissioners with the data necessary to, if it chooses, shift priorities toward transportation improvements and possibly away from other initiatives.
“Our citizens have told us that improving our transportation infrastructure is at the top of the priority list, so we’re at a point where Surtax IV is something I believe that we should take a look at changing our priorities,” Knight said. “Building more buildings is going to increase our future operational costs. Our maintenance on roads is nothing like continuing operational costs.”
In a memo to his fellow commissioners, Knight pointed out the county’s general fund spending per resident jumped from $665 in 2021 to $982 this fiscal year and taxpayers are expecting more for their money…