Event to be held in evening within SRQ Media Studio
From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, residents of the city of Sarasota are invited to a Town Hall to learn about the City of Sarasota’s annual budget process, city staff has announced.
The meeting will be held in the SRQ Media Studio in the City Hall Annex, which is located at 1565 First St., a news release says.
The Town Hall will include a 30-minute presentation about the annual budget with an overview of the General Fund, special funds, and spending restrictions, the release adds. Financial Administration Director Kelly Strickland will make the presentation, the release notes; an open question-and-answer period will follow.
“The fiscal year for the City Sarasota extends from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30,” the release explains. The city is required by Florida law to adopt a balanced budget each year after two public hearings.
The budget process kicks off annually in March with each department submitting a proposed budget, followed by individual department meetings with city administrative staff, during which budgetary needs are discussed, the release adds. Then, during workshops in July, the city manager “presents a comprehensive proposed budget to the City Commission,” the release continues. “Adjustments may be made to the proposed budget before the City Commission sets a tentative property millage rate,” it adds.
Two public hearings are held by the City Commission in September, prior to adoption of the budget.
The adopted Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget is available for review online via the City of Sarasota website www.Sarasotafl.gov.