In The News

The 9.2% increase in spending in 2026 has commissioners starting the budget process with a $7.1 million gap between expenses and revenues.
Sarasota County budgeting has begun earlier than usual, and as commissioners head into 2027 planning, they have dug themselves a spending hole. They couldn’t say “no” in 2026, and now they’re facing the consequences.

This Thursday, I had the privilege of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for Sarasota Station, a remarkable workforce housing project two decades in the making by One Stop Housing (OSH).

The county commission faces a fiscal challenge demanding immediate action. Current projections indicate the county will spend $24 million more than it collects in revenue this fiscal year—a figure that increased by $1 million at the commission’s final 2025 meeting. This deficit spending threatens long-term financial stability and must be addressed before next year’s budget cycle begins.