Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/112475
Sarasota News Leader March 1, 2013 Police consume the largest fraction of the city���s budget, using more than the sum of all property taxes collected annually. Is there room for improvement in how Sarasota polices itself? Holland: I think there���s always room for improvement on anything. As I think you���ve heard me say, I do believe with the new police chief and some new policies and procedures and some fresh eyes to look at the operation of the police department, there���s room for that. I think more and more ��� because we���re not the only city facing this. Page 16 [through which homeless people assist the city���s Public Works Department in cleaning up parks and other areas] is another one that was found someplace else and brought in, and I can���t tell you how much that program is doing wonders. Would you consider merging the Sarasota Police Department and the Sarasota County Sheriff���s Office? Holland: No. Period. Merge some special teams such as Marine Patrol, Bomb Squad, SWAT and othWe need to look at success stories, things that ers? work in other places, and not just for the po- Holland: I���d really have to look into it deeply. lice. One of the things that���s bothered me in It would take a lot to convince me to do that. the past several years is, the city decided ��� ��� ��� ��� and I���m not exactly sure when ��� the city is no longer a member of the Florida Redevel- The city continues to run a deficit in its opment Association. They did that because annual budget, making up the difference of budget cuts, so three or four years ago. from reserves. Will you raise taxes, cut But 20 years ago, those conferences were services, continue tapping into savings places to really find programs that work and or turn it over to staff to balance the ways other cities figured out to do things that budget? may be more cost-effective, smarter. One example for the police is the citizen volunteer Atwell: The bone is almost to the core right program. I remember when we went over now, as far as I���m concerned. Don���t talk about to Delray Beach, or one of the beach cities, cutting staff unless you���re talking about cutand that���s where that program came from. It ting services. To your point, yes to everything. was brought back, and look at its success: Nobody wants to raise taxes. I���d be willing to well over 100 volunteers that save the Police raise the millage rate. Department a tremendous amount of time. If we cut staff any more, it���s ridiculous, and That���s the sort of thing that, when I���m a comthe town won���t put up with it. Even though a missioner, we are going to rejoin the Florida few are complaining because this isn���t mowed Redevelopment Association. That���s only one here, are you willing to raise the millage? example of many, many initiatives. Things to improve Main street, affordable housing ��� I���ve watched my taxes year after year after we need to find the successes of other people year go down because my assessment went and share ours. The Street Teams program down. I���m paying a fraction of the taxes I paid