Sarasota Jobs in Jeopardy
Several Sarasota jobs could be lost as the Florida County attempts to balance its budget.
A higher-than-expected decrease in tax collections have forced Sarasota County officials to change their plan to balance the annual budget. Instead of relying on cash reserves from the housing boom, the county is considering making up to $13 million in cuts, which would affect parks, libraries, human services and public transit.
Options that would impact the public the most include cutting library jobs and closing one of the county's seven libraries, as well as privatizing management of Lido Pool and the tennis courts at Payne Park. There are more smaller cuts, including only painting lines at ball fields once each year, expected to save $90,000, or reducing the amount spend on new books and media at libraries by $107,000, or 30 percent.