Sarasota County is now one more public hearing and final vote away from adopting its $2.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2024. Although the budget includes a 0.5% decrease in the countywide millage rate at 3.2273 mills, the property tax value assessment rose 5.6% over the current fiscal year, bringing a revenue increase of $15.7 million.
Still, the county will shift some $23 million from the general fund balance to balance the budget, and for that reason, freshman County Commissioner Tom Knight said he could not support the resolution. His was the lone dissenting vote on a motion to approve the budget at its first of two public hearings on Sept. 10.
What is a mill?…