By the time fiscal year 2028 arrives, Sarasota County could be facing a $25.22 million deficit according to budget projections provided to the County Commission by staff.
Based on current spending increases year over year, the inevitable deceleration of assessed property value increases and the county’s lack of control over elected and constitutional officer budgeting — which are approved at the state level but financially supported locally — the county is faced with two options: eventually raise property taxes or cut spending.
That is dependent on what commission Chairman Joe Neunder warned at the commission’s fifth budget workshop on Aug. 19 is an inevitable statewide referendum in November 2026 on reducing or eliminating property tax altogether. The grinding continues on how those revenues might be replaced as part of the plan…