Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/170820
Sarasota News Leader September 13, 2013 Page 9 that a new project will generate enough revenue through elements such as impact fees and taxes to compensate for the increased demand on county resources and infrastructure. Developers have long argued 2050's rules are too restrictive, and fiscal neutrality was at the top of their list of complaints when they met with county staff last year to begin the process of rewriting the plan. The staff report Parsons presented in July asked the commission for authorization to hire an academic team from Florida State University (FSU) to review fiscal neutrality. The report argued that bringing in "an independent, non-biased, academic institution" would defuse accusations "that results are pushing any particular agenda." Environmental and controlled-growth groups have frequently charged that rather than simply modifying 2050, the County Commission is, in fact, gutting it at the behest of politically powerful developers. Donna Arduin. Photo courtesy of Virginia Institute for Public Policy The commission shot down the academic request in July. Commissioner Joe Barbetta criticized the $85,000 price tag and argued that all the county needed was "a good, quality economist who has development project experience." He later told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune that he had warned Reid not to put forward the academic team proposal, accusing Reid of acting like "a sixth commissioner." Instead of the academics, Barbetta recommended three names. Among them: Donna Arduin, who worked with the county to analyze the economic impact of the new Nathan Benderson Park rowing facility. Commissioner Joe Barbetta. Photo by Norman Schimmel