assistant county administrator. Botelho has
been the county's chief financial manage-
ment officer.
Conceptual strategies are in the works for
mitigating the shortfall. "It's out there; we are
watching it," he said of the number. "But we
have plans and will aggressively be discuss-
ing options to lower that amount."
The projected deficit can change thanks
to a number of variables, ranging from a
rise in fuel costs to the potential extension
of the Downtown Sarasota Community
Redevelopment Agency (CRA). It would
increase, for example, if the City and County
commissions approve the CRA extension for
another period following the agency's sched-
uled termination in 2016.
Commissioner Joe Barbetta noted, however,
that higher property tax values than antici-
pated would lower the deficit.
"This will change," Botelho said of the shortfall.
"We are going to monitor it," Harmer added.
"We will continue to update the board on that."
NEW PRIORITIES — AND COSTS
The effort to rein in the budget will have to be
balanced with some new spending priorities.
On Friday, commissioners said they want to
put the focus on new sports tourism projects,
such as more rowing facilities at Blackburn
Point Park, in anticipation of the 2017 World
Rowing Championships planned for Nathan
Benderson Park.
Steve Botelho, the county's chief financial management officer and acting assistant county administrator,
listens to discussion during a 2013 budget workshop. File photo
Sarasota News Leader February 28, 2014 Page 31
