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Sarasota News Leader September 27, 2013 Page 77 COUNTY TAX COLLECTOR RECEIVES STATE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE Barbara Ford-Coates, tax collector for Sarasota County, has earned a special state designation for excellence in financial operations, her office has announced. "The Legacy Award is one of the highest achievements the Florida Tax Collector's Association (FTCA) can award a local tax collector," said FTCA President Diane Nelson of Pinellas County in a news release. "The judging process was arduous … (Ford-Coates) … represents the very top echelon of elected officials." Last year, Ford-Coates earned the Excellence in Financial Operations Award after demonstrating proficiency in four areas: innovation and automation; preparation of the annual audit report; customer focus; and budgeting. "For the 2013 Legacy Award, Ford-Coates demonstrated that the office had further enhanced its financial operations," the release points out. This year, a five-person panel comprising government financial executives from throughout Florida reviewed the processes as related to those same four areas of competency, the release notes. "The panelists' review of her office went far and above reviewing her perfect audit report," added Nelson in the release. "The review included methods utilized by Honorable Ford-Coates to deliver service to the people she serves and consideration of the technological innovations she has developed and put into place." Florida tax collectors gather and distribute more than $27 billion in local public funds each year, the release continues. Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates is one of only 12 tax collectors in the state to earn a special designation this year for excellence in financial operations. Contributed photo