Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/175080
SLOW GROWTH Construction of University Town Center was well under way in early May. Photo by Norman Schimmel COUNTY REVENUES ARE RISING, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH PROJECTED EXPENSES By Roger Drouin County Editor In 2009, Sarasota County finance staff format- Sources of tax revenue — from property tax ted an Excel forecasting program designed values to sales tax volume — are on the upto gauge future county budgets based on pro- swing, as the County Commission prepares to jected revenues and expenses. The county im- adopt the Fiscal Year 2014 budget on Sept. 23. plemented the spreadsheet program to guide For instance, property tax values across the county increased a toadministrators and county commissiontal of 4.2 percent this ers as they planned upWe are hopeful these positive year — compared to a coming budgets during 1.1 percent decrease uncertain economic increases in ad valorem property values will happen. I don't know if it will be 8 to the previous year. times. 10 percent. State officials predict The program now property values will go Charles Hines shows steady projectCommissioner up another 4.1 percent ed revenue growth Sarasota County in 2015. from 2015 to 2018.