Briefs

+ County improves its budget forecast
During a budget workshop June 14, Sarasota County administrators said they had managed the budget well enough that they likely will not have to make any huge cuts in the coming years.

“We’re looking at no significant budget issues in 2012 and 2013,” said Dave Bullock, deputy county administrator.

The county has set a preliminary 2012 budget of $857,716,449, which is $140 million less than this year’s budget.

“Our instructions to staff were to seek reductions at any cost,” Bullock said.

Some of those reductions, though, were achieved through a Legislature-imposed reduction in retirement rates, a portion of which will be a one-time savings.

But the county is forecasting that property-tax revenues will begin to rise in 2016.

+  New College has eight Fulbright scholars
New College of Florida announced this week two more students have been awarded Fulbright scholarships for the next school year.

Christina Chavez and Meagan Patrick join six other New College students to receive the prestigious award.

Since its founding in 1960, New College has produced 65 Fulbright scholars, with 35 of those in just the past five years.

The Fulbright program is designed to increase mutual understanding between Americans and those from other countries.

Chavez is from Pembroke Pines and plans to teach English in Malaysia Patrick is from Great River, N.Y., and will teach English in Turkey.

The other New College recipients include Ryan Tisdale, of Sarasota; Adam Bresnahan, of Satellite Beach; Maia de la Calle, of Miami; Danielle Korngold, of Davie; Jennifer Leib, of Tallahassee; and Katharine Dean, of Washington, D.C.

+  Sarasota real-estate sales stay strong
With 796 property sales in May, Sarasota saw its second-highest monthly sales total in six years.

Only March had a higher total since 2005, with 800 sales.

Last month’s median price of condo sales, $218,750, reached its highest levels since October 2009. April’s condo median sales price was $185,500.

The single-family median sales price climbed to $159,000, from $155,430 in April.

May’s property inventory of 5,010 was the lowest level in the past six years.

Meetings & Agendas

• Development Review Committee — 9 a.m., Thursday, June 16, Conference room 2, 1001 Sarasota Center Blvd., Sarasota
• Tourist Development Council — 4 p.m. Thursday, June 16, County Administration Center, 1660 Ringling Blvd., Sarasota
• City Commission workshop — 10 a.m., Friday, June 17, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota
• City Commission — 2:30 p.m., Monday, June 20, City Hall, 1565 First St., Sarasota
• Arlington Park Neighborhood Association — 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 21, Waldemere Fire Station, 2070 Waldemere St., Sarasota