Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/215277
Sarasota News Leader November 22, 2013 Elections Kathy Dent reconfirmed for The Sarasota News Leader on Nov. 20 that the cost would be between $400,000 and $425,000 — the figure she initially provided the News Leader in September. Page 31 It's their separate budget. The folks that are to hold them accountable are the folks in the public." School Board members told the News Leader again on Nov. 20 that they literally could not afford to lose the approximately $40 million out of their budget for their next fiscal year if they had to switch the referendum to November. Under state law, the School Board budget has to be completed in July. Although Commissioner Nora Patterson agreed "with everything Commissioner Barbetta said" about changing the date of the vote, she told her colleagues she would go along with the School Board's request. "I still have some trouble voting against something if I know it will cause a great deal of problem "If we had [the referendum] in November [2014], it would be too late for our budget," for our school system." Vice Chairman Frank Kovach said. Commissioner Christine Robinson made the motion to approve the spring special "We get into a real squishy situation," referendum. She also agreed with Barbetta, Chairwoman Jane Goodwin told the News she added. However, she pointed out, "[The Leader. If the School Board were to move the School Board is] a separately elected body. date to November in the future, she added, it The School Board meets with Deputy Chief Financial Officer Al Weidner (far left) and Chief Operating Officer Scott Lempe (next to Weidner). File photo