Sarasota County ‘Financial Transparency’ website offers financial and budgetary information
Sarasota County has launched a website to provide comprehensive financial and budgetary information to the public. The “Financial Transparency” site is a joint effort by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller, along with the county Office of Financial Planning.
The site provides comprehensive, unfiltered information to the public, giving a clear view of the fiscal and financial information supporting the operations.
The “Financial Transparency“ site can be reached by following this link www.scgov.net.
The transparency page contains information about expenditures, financial reports, financial policies and the Sarasota County Budget Guide. A section on budget amendments will be available Oct. 1.
The “Expenditures” section provides a searchable database for the current fiscal year. “Financial Reports” includes reports compiled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. “Financial Policies” includes information on capital improvements, debt, service charges, financial reserves, investments, revenue, grants, fleet and Enterprise Information Technology (EIT). The “Budget Guide” contains information about county property taxes and the county budget, along with links to capital and operational budgets.
The website includes a list of “Frequently Asked Questions” about the website, information it contains and other financial and reporting information. A “Glossary” defines common financial and budgetary terms, and explains governmental operations.
There also are links to the websites of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller and the Sarasota County Office of Financial Planning
Dining with Kids: A Guide to Sarasota Restaurants that you and the kids will love
I love food and I love it even more when I didn’t have to cook it. Unfortunately, taking kids out to eat can be stressful, if you care whatsoever about the enjoyment of those around you, that is. Sure, you could go to a chain restaurant that’s guaranteed to have carrots smashed into the carpet and Matchbox cars lodged between the seat cushions before your rug rats have even arrived, but do you really want to sacrifice a chance at culinary bliss for a kid’s menu? I don’t. So after countless spilled drinks, thrown Cheerios, and temper tantrums, I have compiled a list of restaurants where you can enjoy delicious food that doesn’t come from a microwave oven, while being kid-friendly, without being “kid-friendly” (if you know what I mean). Plus, these are all independent restaurants, so you’re supporting the local economy to boot!
• Hot Diggity Dog: This place is way more than hot dogs and it’s all cooked right in front of you. The steak sandwich is heart stoppingly delicious and the fried grouper sandwich is a crispy delight. Add on a chocolate malt and fries and you’ve got the perfect start to an I-need-a-nap day, which I’m pretty sure you could take on the floor of their dining area while your kids ran around in circles and no one would care.
• Nancy’s Bar-B-Q: Whoever designed this space must have been thinking about having out of control children aplenty. It’s wide open, there are no waiters to trip, and it’s noisy—perfect for kids. The barbecue is already famous around town and for good reason. Two words: ribs and banana pudding. Wait, that was four words.
• Marina Jack’s Portside Patio: This is the place to go when you want to pretend you’re on vacation. Perhaps your vacation dreams don’t include your kids, that’s totally cool, mine don’t either, but when Grandma is screening her calls and you desperately need a mind-numbing tropical cocktail, Marina Jack is always there. It’s the full package—excellent water view, usually a band of sorts playing to drown out the sounds of your crying baby, full bar, and plastic chairs. Also, there’s plenty of room to roll around a stroller. Just steer clear of the bar since they do allow smoking at it. Or light one up and blow it in your kid’s face, no judgment here.
• Simon’s Coffee House: Strollers easily fit in this café serving up a daily changing menu of eclectic, casual, California-style cuisine. Plus, it has the whole noisy diner thing going for it, so nobody will notice that your kids are banging the silverware on the table.
• Il Panificio (Gulf Gate): This is a new and very welcome addition to the Gulf Gate dining scene. Fabulous, expansive outdoor seating in a busy business district gives your kids plenty of space to run amok and scream to their heart’s content. And who doesn’t love their crispy, oily, awesome pizza.
• Pho Cali: They turn tables so fast in this place that your kids won’t even get the chance to truly ruin anyone’s meal. The servers are so gracious, they’re bound to make you, and your little demons, feel welcome. Plus, the food is sooo good that you won’t even care what horrid manners they’re displaying, you’ll be in a tongue tingling trance. Order anything that has pork in the description, you won’t be disappointed. If your kids are particularly wound up and showing no signs of sleep in the near or distant future, then make sure you end the meal with a red tea with tapioca pearls, you’ll thank me later, it’s like jet fuel.
• Hob Nob: If burgers and beer are what you want, then look no further. Considering I can’t stop thinking about their patty melt and it’s been well over a week since I last ate it, it might possibly be the best I’ve ever had. I’m pretty sure your kids could have a paintball battle in this place, in their underwear, and no one would bat an eye. Unless, of course, they’re teenage girls, then you might get some looks.
• Station 400: I have never even been to this place without there being at least two wild and crazy children in there that weren’t mine. And thank heavens, because the food is so delicious, I would hate to have to miss out on it just because I can’t control my child. The chef uses the best ingredients he can find and highlights them in inventive spins on breakfast and lunch classics. Truffle eggs Benedict with arugula and roasted mushrooms? Hell yeah.
I can’t guarantee highchairs, changing stations, or complimentary crayons at these joints, but I can guarantee rave-worthy food without feeling like you should make your kids wait in the car. With these locally owned and kid-indifferent options, you can say goodbye to dry chicken fingers, dusty tchatchke, and top 40 hits, and say hello to some damn good dining.
What is an HOA Fee and Why is it a Good Thing?
HOA Dues are revealed to all home buyers prior to purchase. And, since not all home buyers understand the issue, I wanted to address “What is an HOA Fee and Why is it a Good Thing?”.
First, HOA is short for Home Owner’s Association. This term signifies that the builder/developer of the building or neighborhood legally filed some Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions that run with the property and likely filed Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws outlining the establishment of the Home Owners Association, their duties and voting rights.
The presence of an HOA will show up as an exception on your preliminary title report. Exceptions on the title report validate that there is some claim or limitation on property ownership. In the event of an HOA, the significance is that there are limitations to property use. Owners must conform to the guidelines in the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, which is sometimes loosely referred to as Community Rules.
When you order a set of HOA documents for review prior to purchase of property, (Meadow Walk’s HOA Documents are available for viewing here on this website) especally newer property including condos and townhomes, you may discover that the HOA package is over an inch thick! The package will include all HOA documents of public record as well as minutes of meetings, financial studies, budgets and more. read more…
Opening Celebration to Feature 5k Fun Run on May 3
County officials and community representatives and organizations, including the Sarasota Audubon Society, will celebrate the completion of the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility and a related project – replacement of the Raymond Road Bridge and other improvements – at a grand opening ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3. The ceremony at the gazebo just north of Palmer Boulevard will be followed by a 5k Fun Run starting at 6 p.m.
The Fun Run will last until 8 p.m., and Raymond Road will be closed from 5:30-7:30 p.m. For motorists, detour signs will be posted along Niobe Road and Porter Road.
Also, members of the Sarasota Audubon Society will be on hand to showcase bird-watching opportunities at the approximately 450-acre site, which formerly was used to grow celery. A total of 210 species of birds have been identified at the Celery Fields.
The Celery Fields site is south of Fruitville Road, east of Coburn and Apex roads, west of Center and Raymond roads and just north of a drainage canal that runs underneath the Raymond Road Bridge.
The approximately 75-foot-tall Observation Mound is the highest point of the regional stormwater facility, which is designed to provide stormwater runoff and detention, flood reduction and water quality improvements. read more…
Neighborhood Treasure: Sarasota’s Celery Fields
This 300+ acre site is owned by Sarasota County and is the County’s primary flood mitigation zone. It is managed by the division of Storm Water and Sarasota County Parks & Recreation. The Sarasota County Department of Transportation is also involved in its management and maintenance.
Mainly consisting of open marshlands, deep ponds, shallow pools, and canals, the Celery Fields are edged by oaks, willows, and pines on the eastern and southern boundaries. The Fields are roughly divided into three segments: the North Cells receive water from the Fruitville Road entry canal and have the deepest ponds. From there, the water is channeled into the Central Cells which cover the area that you see when looking west from the gazebo. The water then flows under Palmer Boulevard into the South Cells, and then southward into Phillippi Creek.
In early 2001, Sarasota Audubon began conducting bird surveys at the Fields. To date, 206 species have been recorded. Wintertime offers particularly good birding, hosting up to 8 species of sparrows, Marsh and Sedge Wrens, and several species of rails, including Sora and Virginia. The Fields also host breeding birds, including Black-necked Stilts, King Rail, Least Bittern, Limpkin, Eastern Towhee, Barn Owl and Eastern Meadowlark. Least Terns breed on nearby buildings and use the ponds as a primary food source. Rarities show up from time to time, including Upland and White-rumped Sandpipers, Short-eared Owl and Nelson’s Sharp-tailed Sparrow.
Sarasota County, recognizing the importance of the Celery Fields as a food and habitat source to a wide variety of birds, is working with Sarasota Audubon to restore 80+ acres in the Southern Cells into a more traditional wetland.
Historically the area was a sawgrass marsh and evidence of early native settlement has been found. The site is also rich in paleontological artifacts. read more…
Want to Know Why there are No Trees on the New Hill in the Celery Fields?
The new hill in the Celery Fields regional stormwater facility, east of Interstate 75, was built from excavating stormwater retention ponds. The “recycled” soil was transported across Palmer Boulevard and used to create the large hill. Some trees will be planted on the top soon. However, the construction contract warranty calls for no holes to be dug in the hillsides for one year because it could lead to erosion.
Residents will be able to soon enjoy the new 12-foot-wide paths for running or walking up and down the hill — and the separate trails for bicycles — as soon as the facility is open to the public. The ribbon cutting is planned for April 19 at 5:30 p.m., with a family fun walk and 5K run following the ceremony.
Sarasota Voters Head for the Polls
Voters will decide today who will fill three of the five seats on the Sarasota City Commission. Polls for the non-partisan election are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. For information about your polling place, call 861-8600 or go to srqelections.com.
In District 1, which spans the northern part of the city east of the Tamiami Trail, incumbent Fredd Atkins chose not to seek re-election. Richard Dorfman, Linda Holland, Willie Charles Shaw and Frederick Douglas Williams are vying to replace him.
In District 2, which includes neighborhoods west of the Trail, incumbent Richard Clapp is challenged by Paul Caragiulo.
In District 3, which spans the southern part of the city, Mayor Kerry Kirschner chose not to run again. Diana Hamilton, Shannon Snyder and Pete Theisen are vying to replace him.
A runoff in any race with more than two candidates, if required, will be May 10. Check local news broadcast tonight for election results.
Sarasota’s Population: Breaking Down The Numbers
The new 2010 census numbers don’t come out until March, but we thought we’d give you a little insight into who we are, and how we live. We’ve scoured the Internet on a quest to hunt down and harvest the most accurate information a string of Google searches can produce. Admittedly, these numbers may not exactly match current levels to the tenth decimal place, but they should be close enough to give one a general idea.
We all know Sarasota’s retirement home reputation good and well, but a gander at our population’s age distribution revels just how ancient our citizenry actually is. According to the American Community Survey’s estimation, Sarasota County has a population of roughly 368,000, about 48% boys and 52% girls. This handy chart provided by the ACS breaks our youth deficiency down in detail.
With a bit of arithmetic, some interesting observations can be made. If you’ll notice, there are more people in the two-decade lifespan between ages 65 and 85 (92,403) than there are in the quarter-century of life between ages 20 and 45 (88,304). You’ll also find there are more seniors age 85 and older than there are children age 5 and younger. The two largest portions of Sarasota’s people pie consist of age groups 35 to 55 and 65 to 85. For some reason, there’s a sharp drop in the 55 to 65ers, which we assume is due to the different migrations of retirees. The bottom line is, seniors ages 65 and up account for roughly a third of all Sarasotans.
Zillow.com estimates the current population within the Sarasota city limits to be 54,879, with a median age of 41. That’s a full decade lower than the countywide median age of 51, but both stats look awfully high up against the national average of 36. Oddly, Zillow’s age distribution graph also shows a crystal clear drop in the city’s population between ages 55 and 65.
The 2000 census even shows a nearly identical split between testosterone and estrogen. Like city, like county, I guess. Similarities aside, the 2000 numbers present a stark difference in age distribution among city dwellers, with almost twice as many 20 to 45ers (18,204) as there are 65 to 85ers (9,548). How much that data has shifted in a decade, we’re not real sure. But here’s the city’s census chart from 2000.
As you can see, the 25 to 55’ers dominate the population within the city limits. However a quarter of city residents are still over six decades old. Overall, the most important thing to take from these demographics is that there is a profound generational divide in this town. And the conflicting ideas and lifestyles between these groups is something that’s more frequently beginning to play out in real time.
The U.S. census also provides figures on same sex couples. As of 2000, with a score of 100 being the national average, it turns out Sarasota scored a 97 on the lesbian chart and a 223 in the men’s department. That gives Sarasota a combined gay rate of 161 — that’s 61% more than the national average.
With our large gay population and the fact that we are basically a dstination for snowbirds and empty nesters, their aren’t a whole lot of children here in Sarasota. In fact, as Zillow points, almost half of our population is married, but only 18% of Sarasota homes have youngsters in them.
That might be one reason we don’t bother to spend as much on public education ($5,549 per student) as the average U.S. city does ($5,678 per student).
Finally, we’re right on par with the rest of Florida when it comes to the unemployment rate. Sarasota is currently sitting at 11.6% , that’s above the U.S. average of 10.2%. One piece of good news, our cost of living is 3.4% lower than the U.S. average.
Sarasota’s Rosemary Park – If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
As some of you know, those crazy creatives at the HuB are up to their antics again. First they wanted to help entrepreneurs, artists and unemployed professionals build new businesses in our region – and then they went off and attracted thousands of people to shop and dine downtown with their I LOVE DOWNTOWN campaign and VINYL MUSIC FESTIVAL. Now, wouldn’t you know it – they want to improve the Rosemary District.
Why? Some people would say “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”… what is so wrong with the boarded up windows, vacant buildings and tumbleweeds slowly rolling in front of the businesses?”
They may have a point. The Rosemary District has a few unique qualities. It is the only business district that has no noise issues (because noone comes to the area to shop, dine and play). It is also one of the few business districts where rent and property value is declining rapidly (which is a big plus for growth opportunities in affordable housing, shelters and other economic drivers). So why mess with it? Why does the HuB want to bring in a “park” to make the area “beautiful and attractive to residents and businesses?”
All a park is going to do – is bring more people to our business district, who probably want to eat, drink and hang out (ugggh) – so that just means more work for the businesses in the area (and less time we can spend on Facebook). And who wants that? And not to mention, it will probably get the residents out of their houses to enjoy things like theater and music in the park. And that’s all we need (uggh) – more people enjoying the arts… we need to keep “those people” contained south of Fruitville. We don’t want that type of “pollution” coming across the border… that would just attract businesses, consumers and probably investors to the area…. and they may never leave!!!! read more…
Sarasota County Cuts Road Impact Fees 50 Percent to Stimulate Construction
The Sarasota County Commission has reduced road impact fees in the county by 50 percent for two years to help stimulate new home construction.
The commission reduced fees on building permits issued after Feb. 1, 2011 and before Feb. 1, 2013. To remain qualified, a project must be completed and have a certificate of occupancy by Feb. 1, 2014. Permits accepted and issued before Feb. 1 aren’t eligible for the reduction.
County impact fees on construction help pay for new or expanded roads, schools, parks and other public facilities required by growth. The commission suspended school impact fees for two years in December after the School Board said it foresees no need for more classrooms during the next five years.
