In The News

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SRQ Daily: Budget Workshop Shows Promise, But Work Remains

SRQ Daily: Budget Workshop Shows Promise, But Work Remains

Mar 21, 2026

Sarasota County held its much-anticipated budget workshop on February 26th, and the results were a mixed bag. There was genuine progress to acknowledge budget problems, and the commission deserves credit where it is due. At the same time, several issues surfaced that will require continued scrutiny. Taxpayers need to stay engaged

SRQ Daily: Budget Workshop Shows Promise, But Work Remains

SRQ Daily: The Argus Foundation Launches

Feb 21, 2026

Sarasota County kicks off its budget workshops for the year on Thursday, February 26th, and the numbers deserve your attention. The county has budgeted $23 million more in economic uncertainty reserves than it collected in general fund revenue, and that gap has real consequences for taxpayers.

Opinion: County Facing Budget Consequences – Observer, February 16, 2026

Opinion: County Facing Budget Consequences – Observer, February 16, 2026

Feb 16, 2026

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.