Consultant proposes beach project cuts

Sarasota County Public Works and Parks and Recreation staff will meet today to look over proposed cuts to reduce the $21.4 million price tag on the Siesta Key Beach improvement projects, according to an email from Public Works Project Manager Curtis Smith.

The consultant working with Sarasota County on the project, which was estimated to cost $6.5 million when initial plans were completed in 2008, has submitted a draft copy of recommended cuts to pare the project’s price down. Renovation costs have changed at least four times since it was proposed, including jumping from $16.3 million to the most recent estimate.

Smith said in the email that he is trying to secure a spot on the agenda for the monthly Siesta Key Association meeting Sept. 6.

As of the 2013 fiscal year preliminary budget, the county has $3.1 million appropriated for the facelift, with another $4.4 million earmarked for the next fiscal year.