Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/190797
Sarasota News Leader October 11, 2013 Page 27 Barbetta pointed out to the News Leader this week that the County Commission makes periodic budget adjustments after the start of its fiscal year, so he saw no reason the School Board could not do the same thing. Goodwin said another reason the School Board preferred the measure be on the March ballot was her fear that it would cost two or three times as much for the district to advertise the referendum in advance of a November election. Voters in the fall would have many more races to consider and the referendum would be far down on the ballot, she pointed out. It could be overlooked if the district did not work hard to make certain voters were aware of it. ELECTION STATISTICS Commissioner Joe Barbetta contemplates budget material in June. File photo Although Sarasota County referenda generally are placed on November ballots, the County Commission did hold a special election on March 13, 2007. That ballot featured two county charter amendments sponsored by the local group Citizens for Sensible Growth. According to a News Leader review of data on the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections website, 27.18 percent of the 254,266 voters then registered in the county turned out for the last referendum on the special 1 mill tax, which was held in March 2010. At that time, Both measures were approved by voters. One the referendum also was combined with the restricts the future annexation of rural lands Longboat and Holiday Park elections. by the Cities of North Port and Venice; the In November 2010, when state and congres- other requires a supermajority vote of county sional offices were on the ballot, the turnout commissioners to amend the comprehensive was 56.1 percent of the 264,382 registered plan to increase allowable land use density or intensity. voters. The charter itself includes specific guidelines In March 2006, 24.78 percent of registered about when referenda may be held on initiavoters participated in the special 1 mill refertives to revise it. In 2007, the charter provided endum, which, again, was on the ballot with that any amendment proposed to it by citizen the Longboat and Holiday Park elections. petition be voted on during a special election During the first district referendum, in March to be scheduled within 60 days after the filing 2002, the turnout was 35.4 percent of the of the proposed amendment with the supervisor of elections. % 225,918 registered voters.