Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/175080
Sarasota News Leader September 20, 2013 "We are spending more than our growth rate. Period," Robinson pointed out. "And as we are spending more than our growth rate, we are depleting our reserves." Even though revenue sources across the board are expected to rise, Robinson said she does not like the idea of banking too much on — projected — high tax increases. "Businesses and individuals don't plan for money they don't have, or don't plan for money that they're not sure when they will get, and we can't plan that way," she told her colleagues Page 53 He raised a few laughs at the Sept. 6 workshop when he suggested the possibility of another (presumably hypothetical) big development — "Lakewood Ranch South" — that would add more property to the tax rolls. He said economic development must remain a priority in the county. This year the county is expected to use $11 million of its economic uncertainty reserve fund. "If we don't use [those] monies we might as well just give them back to the taxpayer," Barbetta said. "I look at my job as investing The county could cut more than the 1 percent that money properly to expand our tax base so that we don't have to raise taxes and so we it has trimmed from the budget, she added. stay at the third lowest tax rate in the state in Commissioner Joe Barbetta has emphasized millage." projected revenue growth, noting that economic development and an "expanded tax Commissioner Charles Hines also hopes propbase" are the keys to continued future growth erty values continue on the upswing. in the county. "We are hopeful these positive increases in ad Barbetta already sees some positive revenue valorem property values will happen," Hines trends. If property values rise 6 to 7 percent said. "I don't know if it will be 8 to 10 percent." in 2015 — which would be higher than the Commissioner Nora Patterson talked about state-projected 4.1 percent — that will be how local governments across the state could enough of a boost to sustain the general fund see revenue align with spending within the with no shortfall. next few years. "If it comes in at 6 or 7 percent, we will be fine "The time will come where income meets your for another two or three years," Barbetta said expenses," Patterson said. "As things get betat the Sept. 6 workshop. ter, I think boards should see that." The red numbers in Botelho's charts, which Patterson attributed the county's solid budgetindicate shortfalls in the forecasting model, ary standing to the forecast model and longwould disappear if the county "expands the term planning over the past few years. "If we economic base," Barbetta added. weren't looking several years down the road, The most positive indications for Barbetta are we wouldn't be in the good financial position we are in," she pointed out. % the new developments coming online.