Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/207831
Sarasota News Leader November 8, 2013 Page 63 provide vehicles necessary for new staffers ANOTHER CONCERN approved by the County Commission, accordVoicing a second concern, Robinson said she ing to Gable. is worried the county is rushing to return to Robinson said she thought a separate budget previous pre-recession spending habits. item already had been approved to set aside funding for all of the equipment necessary for "Part of the heartburn I've had in the last budthe extra Parks and Recreation needs. get cycle was [the term] 'restoring services,'" Robinson pointed out. "I don't believe in that County staffers on Tuesday did not specify the benchmarks for determining when to replace term. I believe we should be smarter, instead of going back to the old ways." vehicles. West's and Gable's answers did not alleviate several commission concerns. The first was whether the county is "getting the cheapest deal" when it comes to buying new vehicles, as noted by Commissioner Nora Patterson. Robinson was not the sole commissioner to voice this worry about spending. "This isn't the first time we've had such a discussion at the board," Patterson noted. "It's almost as if the staff and administration have Chairwoman Carolyn Mason and Barbetta decided we're out of the woods and it's time also wanted to ensure that the county is con- to, quote-unquote, restore things we had to sidering all local bids to see if there are less take out of the budget." expensive vehicles available, something that did not appear clear in paperwork highlight- "But we're not out of the woods," Patterson added. "If we climb out of a fiscal conservative ing the purchasing process. Commissioners Joe Barbetta and Christine Robinson study budget material during a workshop. File photo