Redistricting could cost county $250,000

The redistricting map the Florida House passed Tuesday will split Sarasota County in two, which critics say will shift congressional power northward. If approved, it will also cost the county thousands of dollars.

Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent has has asked for an additional $250,000 for her office's 2016 fiscal year budget to pay for new voter information cards for about half of local registered voters if that map stands. The Florida Legislature will meet for yet another special session in October to redraw State Senate districts, which could lead to even more changes for local voting districts.

“In the worst-case scenario, we would have to notify all 280,000 registered voters,” Dent said.

The Sarasota County Commission will meet for its final budget workshop Friday, to discuss this and other potential changes to the county’s tentative budget.

It costs about $1 to print the cards, pay the postage and send out the voter notifications, which are required by state law. The new funding would boost the Supervisor of Elections office’s budget about 5% to $4.89 million for 2016.

“We didn’t budget for this coming year for redistricting,” Dent said. “Fortunately we have a budget workshop on Friday, so we can alert (commissioners) now instead of asking for it later.”