Commission won't commit funds to homeless program

For the second time in three months, the Sarasota County Commission told Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness officials it’s not prepared to give the organization a firm financial commitment at this time.

At its Friday, June 15, budget workshop, commissioners heard an update from Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness Executive Director Richard Martin during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Martin again asked for three years’ of funding for a $60,000 annual salary director position and a $15,000 financial commitment from the county for the group. Also, for the first time, the group announced it’s crafting a South Sarasota County building in Venice for a one-stop homelessness center.

The group reported it has $3.6 million in assets with little debt and firm commitments for both private and community organization donations, although officials suggested it needed money from Sarasota County first before those donations would start rolling in.

The commission, however, unanimously directed County Administrator Randall Reid to work with the group to review a more detailed financial plan and a list of concrete financial commitments the group will receive before it considers allocating taxpayer dollars to the newly formed organization.

“There’s no doubt I understand the issues folks are facing in south county,” said County Commission Chairwoman Christine Robinson. “But I have to be responsible with what I’m doing with this money, and this isn’t a ripe discussion yet for an allocation of funds.”

Today, the commission is also set to review its capital improvement projects and summarize its financial directions for the 2013 fiscal year and consider a tentative millage rate. The County Commission will adopt a new budget for the 2013 fiscal year Monday, Sept. 24.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].