Reduced Millage Rate Gets Preliminary City Commission Approval

SARASOTA, FL — After reviewing the proposed Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget, Sarasota city commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to reduce the millage rate, approving a rollback rate of 3.1372 mills for the city’s preliminary operating millage.

The rollback is a reduction from last year’s rate of 3.2632 mills, the city said in a news release. Based on an anticipated increase in citywide property values, it holds property taxes steady from the previous year.

“Our professional city staff worked very hard to present a balanced budget that reflects the priorities of the community and the City Commission,” City Manager Marlon Brown said. “The proposed budget provides the level of service our citizens expect and adjusts for the local economy’s continued recovery and challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The proposed 2021-22 budget fully funds the operations and maintenance of the city’s 62 parks and recreation facilities, despite this being the first year of not receiving an $880,000 subsidy from Sarasota County to aid in the recent transfer of several parks back to the city.

It also includes funding for at least 12 city-sponsored special events throughout areas of Sarasota, with consideration of adding more at a future date, and funds a new closed-captioning service for broadcasts of all city advisory board meetings, the city said.

The proposed budget also maintains the same level of service and public safety with 180 sworn Sarasota police officers.

The budget projects a healthy ending fund balance of about 30 percent – well above the recommended 17 to25 percent for local governments – to cover several months of operations with these excess savings in the event of a disaster or emergency, the city said.

The assessed value of property increased citywide by 6.43 percent this year based on the July 1 estimate by the Sarasota County Property Appraiser. Values in the Newtown Community Redevelopment Area increased 7.54 percent and in the new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district for the Bay increased 16.75 percent.

When considering a 3.1372 operating millage rate, the annual tax bill for a homesteaded property with a $200,000 taxable value would be about $500.

Two public hearings on the proposed budget are scheduled Sept. 8 and 21 at 6 p.m.