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Sarasota: top issues to watch in 2014

  • By Observer Staff
  • | 5:00 a.m. January 9, 2014
  • Sarasota
  • News
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To read more on each issue to watch in 2014, click on the links below.

Homelessness — A proposal to build a downtown homeless shelter has set the stage for a contentious debate about where the facility should be built.

Downtown hotels — Four downtown hotels could all begin construction this year, but some hurdles remain.

Sarasota County Commission 2014 elections — Two longtime Sarasota County commissioners retire in November, opening the door for a pair of newcomers to join the board.

County budget — Sarasota County commissioners ditched the austerity measures that carried the county through the recession, approving a $1.1 billion county spending plan for Fiscal Year 2014.

City budget — After narrowly approving a budget and millage rate increase in 2013, the Sarasota City Commission has shown a divide when it comes to managing the city’s finances.

Traffic signals — The continued push for roundabouts in Sarasota and the implementation of a multiyear mobility study has traffic management at the forefront of the city’s 2014 plans.

Real estate — Sarasota County’s real estate markets and construction industry are expected to continue their resurgence despite a skilled-labor shortfall, which threatens to dampen the pace of growth.

 

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