Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/235968
Sarasota News Leader January 3, 2014 The Sarasota County School Board votes unanimously on July 23 — with member Carol Todd absent — to advertise a total tentative millage rate of 7.970 mills for its 2014 fiscal year. That is an increase from the total rate of 7.816 for the current fiscal year. A person with a house valued at $200,000 will pay an extra $30.80 in school district taxes, Deputy Chief Financial Officer Al Weidner notes. The district will use almost $12.9 million from its reserve fund to balance the new budget, Chairwoman Jane Goodwin points out. Page 75 During its regular meeting on July 23, the School Board approves four contracts totaling $1,317,608.29 to provide school resource officers (SROs) in its middle schools and high schools for the 2013-14 school year. However, board members lament not only Sheriff Tom Knight's decision to put his officers only in county schools as of next year, they also criticize the City of Sarasota for not offering to cover part of the cost of SROs in its jurisdiction. According to the new contracts, the School Board will cover the total cost of the SROs in the city of Sarasota, which is $312,248. The Sarasota Police Department has agreed to provide one SRO at each of the Once the Red Bug Slough project is complete, water will flow better through a canal that feeds the lake in the slough. Photo by Roger Drouin