Will Sarasota County show Bayfront Park the money?

Longboaters sent more than $487 million in ad valorem taxes to Sarasota County in the past 10 years. That includes $13 million-plus toward a county environment and parklands program. Here’s what it got the town: Zero dollars for park maintenance and upkeep.

Now Town Manager Dave Bullock is asking the county — where he worked for 17 years — to show him the money.

Armed with slides showing the money that Key taxpayers funnel to Sarasota County every year, Bullock will go before the Sarasota County Commission June 3 to ask for funding for a Bayfront Park project he wants to start in 2016.

In short, Bullock will ask county commissioners for $2,054,559 to go toward a $3.11 million park project.

A draft memo for the June 3 County Commission meeting from Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Services Director Carolyn Brown reveals county staff is recommending the county give the town $2 million for the park. 

Brown’s memo suggests funding the $2 million by taking $1.3 million from the county’s neighborhood parks fund, $50,000 from tourism tax dollars and $650,000 from surtax funds and park impact fees.

“The county does not provide park maintenance for the town through an interlocal agreement as we do for the cities of Sarasota, Venice and North Port,” Brown’s memo states. “The town has agreed to be responsible for maintenance of the entire park complex.”

In March, the Longboat Key Town Commission saw a plan for the park that included a $3.9 million budget. Bullock said the number was too high and promised to work to cut costs and bring the number down. 

Bullock whittled plans down to $3.11 million by eliminating minor parts of the project, but he’s hoping Sarasota County will put more than $2 million toward the new project cost, which would bring Longboat Key’s portion of the project down to $1,027,279.

The Town Commission approved a proposal that hasn’t changed much since Sarasota County parks officials created the concept plan for the park after holding public workshops in 2009. Sarasota County purchased a 3.88-acre parcel adjacent to the town in 2007, becoming a partner with the town to redesign the park.

Because the county partnered with the town to expand the park, Bullock believes the county should help pay for it.

Bullock will highlight the amounts the county pays for parks in other Sarasota County cities, which includes nothing for Bayfront Park and other parks such as Quick Point Nature Preserve on the island within Sarasota County. 

Bullock hopes the county enters into an interlocal agreement with the town and agrees to reimburse the town $2 million over the next two fiscal years, a share that wouldn’t exceed 67% of total costs. As part of the agreement, the town says the county has a right to be a part of the review team that oversees a project that could begin in early 2016. 

“It’s my hope they look at the numbers, listen and grant our request,” Bullock said. 

Park modifications will include a kayak launch; shuffleboard, pickleball and tennis courts; bocce ball space; a dog park; an enhanced playground; and walking trails.