Thank you, Sarasota County voters, for supporting education. The special election to renew the referendum on the current 1-mill levy passed March 16, 2010, with 66 percent of the votes in favor of the renewal.
Basic election facts
On Tuesday, March 16, 2010, a special election will be conducted in Sarasota County. The ballot will include a referendum to allow the Sarasota County School District to continue a 1-mill levy to support public education.
The millage is not a new tax; it is a continuation of millage voters approved in 2002 and renewed in 2006. The renewal will only authorize the district to continue the voted millage already in place.
Referendum funding has enabled the district to recruit and retain high-quality teachers, provide a longer school day, hire additional counselors, maintain award-winning arts programs and enhance other services that have helped improve student achievement.
Over the past two years, economic conditions have forced the district to reduce its annual operating budget by more than $70 million and to eliminate 500 staff positions. Referendum revenue has provided the School Board a critical buffer against even deeper cuts.
Even if the millage is renewed, the district will still face budget cuts next year because of reduced property values in the county and continuing shortfalls in state revenue. If the millage is not renewed, the district will lose a projected $38 million next year alone.
Employee restrictions
Sarasota County School District employees may distribute factual information about an election, but are prohibited from participating in political activities during their work day.
Additional information
The campaign to support the March referendum renewal is being managed by Citizens for Better Schools, an independent citizens group. More information about the Citizens for Better Schools campaign is available at www.sarasotacbs.com.
How to participate
The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16, at all precincts throughout Sarasota County.
Any voter who already has requested an absentee ballot may return a completed ballot to one of the Supervisor of Elections offices in Sarasota, Venice or North Port by 7 p.m. on election day, Tuesday, March 16. More information is available by phone at 941-861-8600 or online at www.SarasotaVotes.com
Early voting took place from March 1-14 at the Supervisor of Elections offices in Sarasota, Venice and North Port.
More about millage
One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of property value above the homestead exemption of $25,000. The average taxable value of a single-family home in the county in 2009 is about $167,000. The owner of a homesteaded house with that value pays $142 a year, or about 39 cents a day, for the 1-mill levy. Even with the voted millage included, homeowners in 54 of Florida’s 67 counties pay a higher school millage rate than we do in Sarasota County.