Sarasota staff warns tourist development tax changes and state budget uncertainty could affect local projects

Rob Lewis, Sarasota County director of governmental relations, briefed the commission on the state legislative session and potential impacts for county budgeting. Lewis said the most recent concurrent extension runs to June 6 and that both chambers must agree to extend beyond that date. He said some appropriations for Sarasota County remain in the House and/or Senate budgets and will be subject to the conference process; specifically he cited a $3,000,000 match for Lorraine Road Segment C (House and Senate), a $2,500,000 request for a Lorraine Road multimodal connector (House), $950,000 for the Ives Street multi-use trail (House) and $800,000 for Phillipa Creek sewer resilience (House).

Lewis also told the board that HB 7033, as proposed, would require a majority of TDT dollars be applied toward property-tax relief and that the measure contains preemption language counties are watching closely. He advised commissioners to continue appropriations advocacy while noting the House position on sales-tax reductions may be shifting.

Commissioners asked what the Board could do to encourage movement in Tallahassee; staff asked for continued advocacy from commissioners and said staff will return with a recommended legislative policy program in August. No action was taken at the workshop.