Concerns about public confusion over issues cited as reason
Following an Oct. 21, 2025 presentation to them by Kim Radtlke, director of the Sarasota County Office of Financial Management (OFM), the county commissioners voted unanimously to place two referenda on the November 2026 General Election ballot.
One question would pertain to making the county’s refinancing of bond debt more efficient, while the other would “allow the County to issue debt in excess of its bonding limitation only during a declared emergency by the Governor or President and only to be used on emergency response and recovery related to the declared emergency,” as an Oct. 21, 2025 county staff memo emphasized the issue.
The refinancing of county debt, the staff memo explained, would apply only in situations when debt service savings is available “or where interim financing (commercial paper) is being refinanced with long term debt. This amendment only applies to refinancing existing debt [as] new projects will still be required to be issued under the [Sarasota County] Charter Cap (or approved by voter referendum),” the staff memo stressed.
The Charter restricts the county to a bond issue no higher than $30.5 million, when the repayment of the bonds will come from property tax revenue, the staff memo explained. Further, the memo noted, the county is limited to $30.5 million in refinancing existing debt to gain debt service savings.
Yet, during the commission’s regular meeting on Feb. 10, Chair Ron Cutsinger raised concerns he was having about the referendum involving the bonding limitation during emergencies.
During his report to his colleagues that day, Cutsinger reminded them about the October 2025 discussion, noting that “we’ve been very successful at [refinancing existing debt]. Might be more efficient, little less expensive to do, if we can combine some debt, if interest rates do come down,” he explained.
However, referring to the other planned referendum, he said,
“I’m getting a little bit more and more uncomfortable.” He wanted to initiate a discussion about whether “this is the right time to put [that] question on the ballot.”
Cutsinger added that he knew the board members had not talked about expanding the Charter cap to borrow money for capital projects. “We’re talking about some very specific limitations, even for emergency spending,” he continued.
Then he noted local government leaders’ concerns statewide about referenda the Florida Legislature is expected to approve for the November 2026 ballot in regard to reducing or eliminating property taxes.
Even though raising the Charter cap is a good idea because of the flexibility it would afford the county in an emergency, Cutsinger said, he wanted to know whether any of his colleagues were having concerns similar to his. “I’m wondering if it would be better to wait until maybe the [November 2028 General Election ballot], after some of this [property tax] uncertainty gets cleared up …”
He did stress, “One thing I do not want to happen is people to either misunderstand or [lack clarity] about what we’re doing …”
Ensuring that constituents are comfortable with the proposals
Commissioner Joe Neunder was the first to respond: “I happen to agree with you 100%. I kind of get the same kind of sentiments in our community. And I think right now we just really need to pause, given the uncertainty with property tax reform coming out of Tallahassee …”
Neunder suggested that the commissioners need to engage more with members of the community.
Before the board members do proceed with putting the issue on a ballot, Neunder added, he wants to be sure that their constituents are comfortable with the idea.
Commissioner Teresa Mast also agreed with Cutsinger, though she suggested that the board halt plans for both the financial referenda in November. “You almost really need two years,” she pointed out, to make certain that the issues are “transparent enough” for voters and that the ballot language “is clear enough that everybody understands it.”
Mast added, “I think it’s fair for our residents to feel a little bit of anxiety with what’s happening in Tallahassee.” Pausing the two referenda would give the commissioners more time to provide sufficient information to the voters about the intent, Mast said.
Although he had felt the planned county referendum regarding the refinancing of debt would be “pretty easy” for constituents to understand, Cutsinger responded, if the rest of his colleagues believe the best step is to hold off on both financial referenda, he indicated his agreement with that proposal.
“We do refinance what we can,” he added, “but right now, we can’t combine and refinance a larger amount than our Charter cap [allows]. … It works better to do more.”
Nonetheless, Cutsinger said, “I’m not opposed to just saying, ‘Pause both of those [referenda] at this time,’ ” and refrain from creating confusion for voters. “I think it is something for a future ballot question.”
Commissioner Tom Knight offered his concurrence with Cutsinger’s statements. Then Knight pointed out that the referendum regarding the plans for the new jail structure will be the most important county issue planned on the November 2028 General Election ballot. “To me, that has got to be the priority …” (See the related article in this issue.)
While Knight talked of the need for further discussion regarding the financial referenda, he also noted that, given the pressing need for the new jail — as a result of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office’s struggles with the increasing population counts over the past years — “We may not be able to do [the financial referenda in 2028], either.”
“I don’t want anything to interfere with the jail referendum,” Knight reiterated his point. “We gotta make that happen.”
Commissioner Mark Smith added, “I agree with what’s been said up here. I do believe we need to pass those [financial referenda], too,” he continued. “But it’s prudent, I think, to pause,” because the commissioners do not want to have voters confused and, ultimately, see those referenda fail.
“And Commissioner Knight’s correct, too,” Smith added: “We’ve got to focus on the jail after this.”
“We have a strong consensus on that,” Cutsinger summed up the comments about the two county Charter referenda. Therefore, he asked for a motion to reflect the board members’ views.
Mast formally made the motion that called for a pause on the referenda regarding the refinancing of bond debt and the emergency spending cap. Knight seconded it, and it passed 5-0.