Meters among options for Village lot

Sarasota County Chief Engineer Jim Harriott outlined in a recent memo to County commissioners four options to change the taxing method for Siesta Key Village property owners related to the municipal parking lot. One option is to abolish the special taxing district and find a new source of revenue — like parking meters.

Owners of parcels in the Siesta Key Village Parking Public Improvement District pay an annual lump-sum levy based on their properties’ parking provisions to cover the $874,000 cost of building the municipal lot behind Siesta Key Hardware. The payment agreement is currently set to expire in 2019, and property owners have already paid about $520,000 over the previous 12 years.

But, County commissioners directed staff to look at ways to simplify the assessment method after rejecting a settlement offer from Siesta business owner Chris Brown, who is currently suing the county for unfair assessments related directly to the parking district. Among the alternatives are to sell the lot to a private management firm, establish a uniform tax rate, or hire a consultant to determine how much each parcel benefits from the municipal lot.

For a breakdown of pros and cons of the assessment options, pick up a copy of the Oct. 11 issue of the Pelican Press.