Public Service Matters
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PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS 2012 Annual Report ! PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS Home Rule Charter How Your County Government Works Sarasota County support services include financial Law of the Land Sarasota County incorporated in 1921 planning, information technology, With the exception of emergency and adopted a Home Rule Charter communications and human resources. ordinances, commissioners adopt new in 1971. The charter establishes a ordinances by affirmative vote of three commission form of government with A Charter Review Board is responsible members. In the event of a conflict county commissioners as the county’s for review and changes to the County between a municipal (city) ordinance governing body. Five commissioners Charter. That board is comprised and a county ordinance, the municipal are elected to four-year terms of 10 members — two from each ordinance prevails within the limits countywide, but each commissioner commission district — who serve four- of the municipality. Land use is must live in a specific district. year terms without compensation. governed by the Sarasota County They are elected countywide by Comprehensive Plan. The County Commission appoints voters during each general election. only two employees – the County Because Sarasota County values the Administrator and the County How the Charter can be Changed participation and input of its residents Attorney. The County Administrator There are four ways to propose a in the decision-making process, is the chief administrative officer change to the County Charter: a the county also has more than 30 for the county and serves at the petition, signed by at least 5% of citizen advisory boards, councils and pleasure of the County Commission. registered county voters; a special committees, whose members are All employees under the County law enacted by the state legislature; appointed by the County Commission. Commission, with the exception of an ordinance; or a recommendation Each board focuses on a specific issue the Office of the County Attorney, by the Charter Review Board. Charter or topic in areas such as economic report to the County Administrator, amendment proposals must be development, the environment, who is solely responsible for hiring approved by voters. libraries, and health and human and dismissing employees. services. Membership requirements, When the Commission Meets meeting frequency and length of Sarasota County provides fire Unless otherwise advertised, all terms vary. To learn more, see protection and EMS service to regular meetings of the Sarasota page 40. unincorporated areas and some County Commission are held at 9 a.m. municipalities. There are three on the second and fourth Tuesday Who Else Helps Run the County? utility service operations – water/ and Wednesday of each month. Sarasota County has five sewer, stormwater and solid waste. Meetings are held at the Sarasota Constitutional Officers, each elected The county also operates typical County Administration Center, 1660 for terms of four years: a Sheriff, infrastructure programs such as Ringling Blvd., Sarasota, and the Tax Collector, Property Appraiser, transportation and facilities, and Robert L. Anderson Administration Supervisor of Elections and Clerk of a countywide transit operation. Center, 4000 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice. the Circuit Court and Comptroller. The county provides a full range of community and human services, in the form of parks, recreation, health- related services, planning, zoning, permitting and environmental resource management. The primary 941.861.5000 2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT In 2013, Sarasota County updated its structure to more efficiently meet the demands of citizens. Some department titles were also changed to more effectively communicate their functions. For example, in 2013 Neighborhood Services moved to Planning and Development Services, but for the purposes of the 2012 Annual Report, is shown under its previous alignment 2 to Community Services. In late 2012, Public Works was Board of County Commissioners designated Capital Assets. The term Public Works is used in this report to reflect the department’s alignment to the Fiscal Year 3 2012 budget. Going forward, Sarasota County is structured into Mission, Vision, Values three functional groups. Community Services 4 • Health and Human Services A Letter from the County Administrator • Libraries and Historical Resources • Natural Resources 6 • Parks and Recreation How Your Property Taxes are Allocated • Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension 8 Community Planning • Planning and Development Services Sarasota County Financial Information • Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) 10 • Environmental Utilities Public Works • Economic Development • Neighborhood Services 14 • Community Redevelopment Agency Community Services • Economic Development Management Systems 20 • Financial Planning Health and Human Services • Human Resources • Enterprise Information Technology 22 • Fire and Emergency Services Environmental Utilities • General Services • Field Services 26 • Capital Assets (Public Works) Emergency Services • Capital Projects • Traffic Engineering 28 In addition to the three functional groups listed above, four Planning and Development Services departments report directly to the County Administrator: 30 Communications; Ethics and Compliance; Community and Intergovernmental Relations; and Sustainability. Sarasota County Area Transit (SCAT) 32 Sarasota County is funded through: Economic Development Taxes 1. Ad Valorem (property taxes) 34 2. Infrastructure Surtax Operations and Maintenance 3. Tourist Development Tax 4. Communications Services Tax 36 5. Various fuel taxes Support Services Permits, fees and special assessments 1. Fire and Rescue Assessments 40 2. Solid Waste Assessments Citizen Advisory Boards 3. Stormwater Assessments 4. Electric Franchise Fees Back inside cover Intergovernmental The Path Ahead 1. Federal Transit Administration Grants 2. Court-related Functions 3. State Revenue Sharing 4. Community Development Block Grants Charges for services The 1. Utility System Charges Sarasota County 2. Solid Waste System Charges Courthouse 3. Ambulance Charges 4. SCAT Charges 1 www.scgov.net PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS Dedicated to Quality Service The 2012 Board of County Commissioners Christine Robinson District 3 Commissioner Chair [email protected] Carolyn Mason District 1 Commissioner Vice Chair [email protected] Joe Barbetta District 2 Commissioner [email protected] Nora Patterson District 4 Commissioner [email protected] Jon Thaxton District 5 Commissioner Charles D. Hines Your Sarasota County Commission Commissioners are elected at-large Newly elected, 2013 Sarasota County incorporated in 1921 for four-year terms They appoint a District 5 Commissioner and adopted a Home Rule Charter Chair and Vice Chair, who serve one [email protected] in 1971 in accordance with the state calendar year. The Chair presides constitution and Florida law. The charter at all meetings of the commission established a commission form of and is recognized as the head of the government with county commissioners county for all ceremonial purposes. representing five districts as the county’s Every year, Sarasota County governing body. commissions a Citizen Survey. This video gives an overview of the 2012 survey. 2 941.861.5000 2012 SARASOTA COUNTY ANNUAL REPORT Sarasota County’s Mission, Vision and Values Values As Sarasota County employees, WE are committed to demonstrating Vision each one of these values at all times. To be the premier community where people choose to live, work RESPECT and play. WE demonstrate mutual respect Mission through our professionalism, courtesy The Mission of Sarasota County and appreciation for diversity. Government is to be the most livable and best managed community ACCOUNTABILITY in the country, providing quality WE are individually and collectively services, programs, and facilities that responsible for our actions as stewards reflect the goals of the community. of the public’s trust. INTEGRITY WE adhere to ethical principles, demonstrating mutual respect and conducting ourselves with honesty and sincerity. QUALITY WE take pride in providing quality public service with passion, innovation and excellence. TEAMWORK WE foster a collaborative environment that values creativity, sharing information and ideas, and working together to solve problems and accomplish goals. TRUST WE seek mutual purpose, honor commitments, and use our skills, knowledge and abilities in a way that builds confidence and loyalty. 3 www.scgov.net PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS A Letter from the County Administrator PUBLIC SERVICE MATTERS Dear Citizen I am pleased to present to you the Public service matters, because if you 2012 Annual Report, my first as live in Sarasota County, you probably Sarasota County’s Administrator. Over know at least one county employee the past year I have been honored personally. Their children attend to use my leadership experience, as school with yours. They attend the 2012 well as the talents and skills that I same places of worship. They fight the developed over a number of years, fires, keep our community safe, build We consider this the beginning to help benefit an organization for our roads, clear our storm drains, of a new era, in which Sarasota which I’ve held a great deal of respect. protect our water and preserve our County and its citizens can Sarasota County has always been one lands. County employees are a vital create a community that is of the premier counties in Florida. component of the local