by Christine Robinson | Aug 17, 2024 | News
Transparency has been a challenge this past year for many local governments. We have written about specific examples of government documents not being provided to the public ahead of time or not allowing public comment on commissioner proposals from the dais. Today,...
by Christine Robinson | Jul 29, 2024 | News
The Sarasota County Commission recently voted against funding parental choice school readiness childcare. Commissioners cut $510,000 from the program, the amount voted through last year, and turned their back on a long-term partnership with the Legislature and...
by Christine Robinson | Jul 20, 2024 | News
You hear it often from people who want to see Sarasota County and its cities frozen in time, “commissioners need to stop all of this building.” It is a fascinating premise to think a commissioner would have this sort of power, to issue a moratorium on building. In...
by Christine Robinson | Jun 23, 2024 | News
Several prominent local foundations are urging the Sarasota County Commission to revisit more than $1 million in funding cuts to highly ranked programs made in a process they say was plagued by confusion, inconsistency and a lack of transparency. Read More
by Christine Robinson | Jun 20, 2024 | News
SARASOTA — Regional foundations are urging Sarasota County commissioners to reconsider recent votes to cut funding. In a letter signed by leaders of four nonprofit foundations, they pinpointed the June 5 vote on county human service funding and suggests a “second...
by Christine Robinson | Jun 15, 2024 | News
Some heavy decisions have recently been made at many local governments without the open transparency that should be provided to the public. Decisions are being made, and based upon, important documents or considerations without the public getting to see those...
by Christine Robinson | May 18, 2024 | News
On June 4 in Venice, the County Commission will be having a discussion on eliminating the business license tax in Sarasota County. The Argus Foundation supports the continuation of the business license tax for a public-private partnership for economic development....
by Christine Robinson | Apr 20, 2024 | News
The Argus Foundation began to sound the affordable and workforce housing alarm eight years ago as our area was emerging from the Great Recession. We have subsequently written dozens of columns on the topic over the years as the City of Sarasota, in particular,...
