Commissioners praise Harmer's initial budget

Last year, Sarasota County Commission budget workshops were often tense, with the possibility of large looming budget shortfalls and emergency meetings to slash spending before public hearings.

Staff this week wrapped up another round of workshops presenting the 2015 fiscal year preliminary budget, which is slated to be $1.1 billion. And this year, under the leadership of County Administrator Tom Harmer, who took over after the commission fired Randall Reid last fall, commissioners praised staff’s handling of spending decisions — particularly whittling away a $25 million shortfall projected for the 2016 fiscal year.

“We were on an unsustainable path,” said Commissioner Christine Robinson Friday. “Thank you for your leadership on this issue.”

Under Reid, the budget grew 2% to more than $1 billion for the first time in a decade from the 2013 to the 2014 fiscal year, while adding 115 full-time employees. In Harmer’s preliminary budget, county spending would increase 1% with the addition of 40 full-time employees.

Growing projections for county taxable values, which settled on a 6.7% bump for the next fiscal year, helped close the gap in the general fund. Also, commissioners praised managerial decisions, such as reorganizing departments, reallocating reserve funds and restructuring debt, among others, for reducing the forecasted deficit.

For example, the Mosquito Control Department is on track to repay a $500,000 loan to the general fund; Sarasota County Area Transit has partnered for parking with the Sarasota County School Board to save $100,000; and staff has proposed reducing the compensated absence reserve from 60 days to 20 days, which saves $5.7 million.

“It was very shocking to see that number last October,” said Commission Chairman Charles Hines. “What I see here right now is all of us are buying into this.”

Contact Alex Mahadevan at [email protected]