Sarasota school revenues fall

Recessions issue a double whammy to economies, whose public schools face budget cuts, weakening the future value of the same economy’s work force.

Sarasota County District Schools weren’t spared from the Great Recession, with a fifth consecutive year of operating budget cuts and staff reductions included in the budget for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

But, despite the 686 positions cut during the last five years and $120 million slashed from the operating budget in the same period, most of the data fell by the lowest margin over the year since the housing crash. Millage rates will rise for Sarasota County this year and taxable values are down less than 1% compared with last year, but trends indicate a parachute is opening for the recession-fueled free fall for the school budget.

School board members praised Al Weidner’s efforts in reducing the amount drawn from the general fund from $13 million, down to $1.2 million.

“It’s a team effort,” Weidner said at the tentative budget presentation Tuesday, July 24. “(Superintendant Lori White) leads a very conservative message.”

School Board Vice Chairwoman Carol Todd was absent for the meeting, but the four present board members voted to approve the preliminary budget for advertisement.

Weidner said the information will be available on the school board website so the public can study up on the budget the public hearing Tuesday, July 31.

The proposed 2.3% millage rate increase will likely be the focal point of the public hearing, but School Board member Shirley Brown wanted to assert it was the actions of the Florida Legislature that caused the hike — $18 for a property appraised at $100,000, barring any valuation change. The required local effort for student allocation increased 3% in Florida, she said.

“The total taxes are still less than what they were 10 years ago,” she said.