Commission to meet for mid-year review

Sarasota County staff will update commissioners on issues ranging from revenue sources to plans to privatize aspects of the public transit system during a mid-year update workshop Tuesday.

The county's general fund has collected 3.4% more than the $29.2 million expected for the first half of the 2014 fiscal year, according to a staff presentation, and major revenues are up 5.2%. Those and other statistics, including a 32% over the previous years increase in permits for single-family homes, reflect a recovering economy.

Staff will also highlight major accomplishments, including the completion of the south Lido Beach restrooms, the groundbreaking for the Siesta Key beach improvements and the Alliance for Innovation Award for Nathan Benderson Park.

Commissioners will also discuss preparations for Sarasota County Area Transit's (SCAT) 2015 fiscal year budget, which includes a proposal to outsource all of the organization's paratransit operations — private firms handle half of the current amount of paratransit trips. According to the staff presentation, this would result in $1.5 million in savings annually.

Commissioners will continue discussions about the possibility of privatizing the entire transit system.

IF YOU GO
What: Sarasota Count Commission meeting
When: 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 29
Where: Third Floor Think Tank, Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd. Sarasota