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with ways to address a projected budget defi- cit in 2016. That shortfall has been based on current spending levels and estimated area growth. "As the new guy, it is a tremendous benefit to have the audit complete in December and to be here in February talking about this," said County Administrator Tom Harmer, who was named permanent administrator earlier this month. "We are well under way, working on the department budgets." On Friday, Harmer will present the full bud- get workshop schedule for this year. FINANCIAL HEALTH Rushing told the commissioners the overall financial health of the county is strong, thanks in part to measures taken by the County Commission and to the board's general "stew- ardship" over the past few years. In Fiscal Year 2013, expenditures increased by $11.2 million to $739 million, but reve- nues were also up — by $16 million, to $734 million. Expenses decreased by 6.4 percent per capita, according to the financial report. "Decreases in expenditures is a result of the County responding to the economic downturn The county's general fund is slightly less robust than it was in 2012, according to the report on the 2013 fiscal year. Image courtesy Sarasota County Clerk of Court Sarasota News Leader February 21, 2014 Page 31