County Commission to vote on final budget

The Sarasota County Commission will vote to adopt the final budget for the 2015 fiscal year tonight.

The commissioners first tentatively adopted the budget and millage rate Sept. 8.

The countywide millage rate is 3.3912 mills. The rate has remained flat, however property owners may see a tax increase due to the increase in property values.

The millage rate is an aggregate of the general operating millage, debt service fund millage and mosquito control district millage.

One mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property valuation.

According to the county charter, the budget is divided into two sections, one for county-wide services and the other for special districts, municipal service taxing units and municipal service benefit units. The county’s final budget for the first section is $892,354,807 and for the second section, $256,836,516, for a grand total of a $1.14 million budget.

The commissioners will also vote on the five-year capital improvement program list, which has a total cost of $17,474,530.

The budget for 2015 is a 6.8% increase from fiscal year 2014.

IF YOU GO

What: Sarasota County final budget adoption and public hearing

When: 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22

Where: Commission Chambers, Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota.