Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/141988
Sarasota News Leader July 4, 2013 Page 15 THE TAX COLLECTOR'S OFFICE IS ESTIMATING IT WILL COST $4.5 MILLION IN FACILITIES EXPENSES FOR IT TO TAKE OVER ALL DRIVER LICENSE SERVICES BY JUNE 2015, AS REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor Because the Florida Legislature approved a 2011 bill mandating that county tax collectors take over all driver license services no later than June 2015, the Sarasota County Tax Collector's Office will need about $1 million to renovate existing facilities and probably a maximum of $3.5 million for a new, central location to serve customers, Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates has told the Sarasota County Commission. cles no longer will provide those services at any other location, including its facility at 601 S. Pompano Ave. — off Fruitville Road — or the AAA office at 3844 Bee Ridge Road. In presenting her budget for the 2014 fiscal year, Ford-Coates said she also has planned for four new employees next year and another eight for the 2015 fiscal year to make the transition possible. In two years, she explained, the Florida De- With her office taking over all the drivers' lipartment of Highway Safety and Motor Vehi- cense services, she told the County Commis- Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates (right) chats with county Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent during a break in the June 21 budget workshop. Photo by Rachel Hackney