City to Vote on Budget Cuts, Millage Increase

During July's marathon budget meetings, Sarasota city leaders knew they were facing an increased budget with falling revenues. City staff proposed cutting services and tapping the reserve fund for almost $2 million to cover costs.

City commissioners approved the budget to move the process forward, but asked staff to come back with additional, significant cuts. On Tuesday, staff will present a plan to commissioners with $842,000 more in cuts and a 0.0836 increase in the city's millage rate.

The increased millage, or tax rate, is to fund the and .

Staff Proposed Cuts (Savings)

• A three-month hiring freeze ($250,000)
• Eliminate citizen survey ($22,000)
• Reduce police panel ($32,000)

If the Commission adopts the recommended list, the millage would be 2.8607 instead of 2.9249 as stated in the TRIM notices. The 2.8607 calculates to a 4.71 percent decrease from the aggregate rolled-back rate, according to city staff.

At July's budget workshop, Vice Mayor Terry Turner cautioned that cuts will be easier to make this year than the next.

"One million [in cuts] this year will be easier than $3 million next year," Turner said in July. "We'll either have to dramatically raise taxes or do even more draconian ," he said.

The amount of reserves used, if the commission approves staff's recommendation, would decrease from the $2 million proposed in July to $1.5 million.