Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
$1 BILLION The County Commission holds a budget workshop on Aug. 20. Photo by Norman Schimmel THE SARASOTA COUNTY COMMISSION APPROVES THE FISCAL YEAR 2014 BUDGET ON A FIRST READING, AFTER PARING ALMOST $1 MILLION IN EXPENSES By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor With Commissioner Christine Robinson dissenting, the Sarasota County Commission on Sept. 9 approved the proposed $1,077,919,038 Fiscal Year 2014 budget on a first reading, keeping the total millage rate the same at 3.3912. Robinson has expressed her displeasure numerous times over the past months with the county's dipping into its economic uncertainty reserve fund to balance the budget. Most recently, during the board's last budget workshop on Sept. 6 — which she requested Because property values rose 4.2 percent this — she pointed out, "We can't erase the fact year, a number of homeowners will see in- that we're spending more than our growth creases in their property tax bills. rate … What we're not doing is holding the rate on what we're consuming and spending." The final public hearing and adoption of The FY 2014 budget is the spending plan will Going forward, I think our budgeting about 20 percent highbe held at 5:30 p.m. on er than the FY 2013 is going to have to be what's more realistic. Sept. 23 at the R.L. Anbudget that went into derson Administration effect on Oct. 1, 2012. Charles Hines Vice Chairman Center, 4000 Tamiami However, commission Sarasota County Commission Trail in Venice. decisions made during