2025: Sarasota by the numbers

$65 million

The cost for the first phase of the 17th Street Regional Park, which began construction in early 2025.

$16 million

The cost of dining and retail upgrades in Concourse B and the terminal at SRQ Airport.

$925,000

The sticker price of Sarasota Police Department’s new mobile command center.

$375 million to $425 million

Preliminary cost estimate for a new Sarasota Orchestra Music Center.

Photo by Jusup Sandoval

16

Pairs of running shoes Nels Matson went through on his 3,063-mile run across the United States in fall 2024.

$30 million

Seaward Development’s estimated cost to fully restore the Mira Mar building on Palm Avenue.

153

New apartments planned for the expansion of Plymouth Harbor on Coon Key.

Photo by Andrew Warfield

51

Applications received by an executive search firm for the Sarasota City Manager position before the city and the firm parted ways.

3.2273

Ad valorem millage rate set by the Sarasota County Commission for fiscal year 2026.

600

Square footage of land purchased by affordable housing developer Blue Sky Communities from Sarasota County that the county did not own.

15,000

The Florida Housing Commission goal of new local affordable housing units to be built in Sarasota County in 10 years.

3.3

The maximum millage rate set for fiscal year 2026 by the Sarasota City Commission.

Courtesy image

$57 million

The cost of the new Florida Studio Theatre McGillicuddy Arts Plaza, which broke ground in November.

$25.2 million 

Projected Sarasota County general fund shortfall by fiscal year 2028.

23,459

School zone speeding violations at five schools in Sarasota from July 2024 through June 2025.

208

Number of affordable Sarasota Housing Authority units now under construction.

Courtesy image

$248,000

Base price of Spot, a robotic dog, on Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche’s tech wish list.

$248,827

Cost to equip a new Sarasota County sheriff’s deputy including first-year salary and benefits. 

8

Aetna Medicare Advantage plans offered in 2025 that will not accept Intercoastal Medical Group doctors in 2026.

$200,000

Money missing from Sarasota Little League’s bank account.

Image courtesy of Sarasota Police Department

28

Years Capt. Demetri Konstantopoulos served with the Sarasota Police Department before retiring.

$29.7 million

Resilient SRQ funds approved by the County Commission to dredge Hudson and Whitaker bayous and expand Celery Fields flood capacity.