Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 Page 12 about $4.5 million could be reflected in the FY 2014 budget after the County Commission approves the individual transfers later this month. Among them will be a return of $1.5 million from the risk fund to the general fund. The county's risk fund "had a good year," Steve Botelho, the county's chief financial planning officer, told the board on Sept. 6. "The claims were low." Another $2 million would be available from unspent money in the Sarasota County Area It would be different if we were doing this strategically, but we're not. Chief Financial Planning Officer Steve Botelho listens to comments during the Sept. 6 budget workshop. Photo by Rachel Hackney Christine Robinson Commissioner Sarasota County the current fiscal year have added to that $897 million spending plan. Altogether, the board has approved the hiring of 67.8 new full-time employees (FTEs) since Nov. 2012. The majority of those — 24 — were to help keep up with county mowing demands, at a cost of $663,000. That Feb. 8 action was coupled with a decision to hire 18.8 FTEs to handle athletic field maintenance, at a cost of $1,340,000. The total budget impact of the mid-year decisions was $3,670,682, according to a chart the county's Office of Financial Planning provided the commission during the Sept. 6 workshop. On the other hand, staff was able to shave $986,800 through funding shifts, deferred expenditures and level of service reductions. Additionally, a one-time revenue infusion of Commissioner Christine Robinson peruses budget documents on Sept. 6. Photo by Rachel Hackney