Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/215277
MARCH 25 IT IS Sarasota County School Board members say the revenue produced by the special 1 mill tax is critical to maintaining high-quality staff and programs. Image from morguefile.com IN SPITE OF OBJECTIONS TO THE TIMING, THE COUNTY COMMISSION VOTES 4-1 TO APPROVE ANOTHER SPRING SCHOOL BOARD REFERENDUM ON A SPECIAL 1 MILL TAX By Rachel Brown Hackney Editor With Commissioner Joe Barbetta in the He pointed out that the School Board should minority on Nov. 20, the Sarasota County have the referendum in conjunction with a Commission voted 4-1 to approve a resolution November general election, when voter turnsetting March 25 as the date for the fourth out typically is higher. "They could plan for Sarasota County that," he said of the School Board referSchool Board memT h e n e g a t i v e i m p a c t o n bers. "They've had endum on a special 1 educational programs and retaining years to plan for it." mill tax. quality staff would be significant and Reiterating a point he would far outweigh any negative had made in previ- consequence of a March election. ous discussions of the issue, Barbetta said, "It's all about $500,000 and voter turnout." Lori White Superintendent Sarasota County Schools Although he contended $500,000 would be the School Board's expense for the referendum, Sarasota County Supervisor of