Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 approve a reduction in the county's disaster reserve to reflect 75 days of operations instead of 90. That action freed up about $8.1 million that could be used on capital projects with an anticipated significant return on investment, Barbetta pointed out at the time. Page 60 Tourist Development Tax (TDT) revenue instead of that $8 million pool. On Sept. 6, Patterson told her colleagues she had consulted with Deputy County Attorney Kathleen Schneider about the TDT money. Schneider had confirmed, Patterson said, that Patterson and Commissioner Christine Robin- if the board designated the BMX project "a son were in the minority on that vote, as they tourist development agent," then the TDT revwere again on Aug. 27. enue could cover the $1 million needed for the improvements at the county's 17th Street One of the projects Barbetta pointed to during complex. the May discussion involved the addition of a 5-meter ramp and the reconfiguration of the The money could come out of a TDT revenue track at the county's BMX facility to make it pool allocated for capital expenses or improvthe only one of its kind on the U.S. East Coast ing existing facilities, Patterson pointed out, — and only the second in the nation. based on her discussion with Schneider. That portion generates about $400,000 per year, However, when the commissioners voted Patterson added. unanimously on Aug. 27 to approve funding for that project, they agreed to have staff re- Therefore, the commission could allocate search whether the expense could come from the money generated by that portion of a Vice Chairman Charles Hines and Commissioner Nora Patterson review budget material during a Sept. 6 workshop. Photo by Rachel Hackney