School Board approves rate increase

The School Board of Sarasota County opened and closed the floor for public comment today at a hearing to adopt the district’s 2012 tentative budget in 10 of the 45 minutes allotted — because nobody from the public came to the meeting.

The brief meeting, in which a tentative rolled-back millage rate increase of 1.27% was approved unanimously, reflects a year of efficient cooperation between the School Board and Superintendent Lori White, said School Board Vice Chairwoman Carol Todd. Another example is the unanimous acceptance of a design for the Sarasota High School rebuild at a design charrette earlier this year.

Although, the rate hike was due to changes at the state level.

“The required local effort was raised,” said School Board member Shirley Brown. “But, none of the rates the board sets has been changed.”

Contact Alex Mahadevan at [email protected].