Frequently Asked Questions

How is this information helpful?

For citizens: Find information on how your tax dollars are being spent in Sarasota County.

For businesses: See the types of goods and services Sarasota County is acquiring to discover new business opportunities.
For government: Study government buying patterns to identify new opportunities to leverage                              buying power.

Q: What is www.scgov.net/transparency?
A: It's a website for information and key documents about how Sarasota County Government spends tax dollars and other revenues to provide services to the residents of Sarasota County. 

Q: Why was the www.scgov.net/transparency website created?
A: Sarasota County Government in conjunction with the Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller created this website to increase transparency to the citizens of Sarasota County and other interested parties. The information on the website contains data about county expenditures through a single, searchable website, accessible at no cost to the public. Future phases will include information such as revenues and salaries. 

Q: If I have a question about information on the website who do I contact?
A: Please use our "contact us" form. Please be as clear and concise as possible so we can answer your questions accurately.

Q: What does Fiscal Year mean?
A: A twelve-month period, for which an organization plans the use of its funds, not necessarily coinciding with the calendar year. Sarasota County’s fiscal year is Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

Q: How current is the information?
A: Each month, data will be refreshed with current fiscal year-to-date information including correcting entries which may reverse or change the effect of previous entries.

Q: Has the data on the website been audited?
A: No. This data is unaudited, data and may not agree with any audited or published financial statements. Audited financial data are contained in the County’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) produced by the  Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller. These reports are available by clicking the Financial Reports link from the home page of the Financial Transparency website. 

Q: What is the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR)?
A: The CAFR is an annual financial report prepared by the Clerk of Circuit Court and County Comptroller. The report provides statements of financial condition and operations of Sarasota County in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

Q: How long is supporting documentation retained?
A: Documentation supporting data included in the reports is maintained for five fiscal years in accordance with the Florida Department of State General Schedule for State and Local Governments Agencies.  

Q: What is the Consolidated Major Revenue and Debt Report?
A: The Consolidated Major Revenue and Debt Report is prepared to identify and explain the nature, collection history, legal authorization, uses and restrictions of the county's primary revenue sources.  For the purpose of this report, a major revenue source is defined as a financial resource greater than $1 million on an annual basis. It also outlines the history and provides a brief description of all outstanding county indebtedness, a review of the county's bonded debt over the last 10 years and a comparison of Sarasota County's debt to that of other similarly populated counties in Florida. Furthermore, the report provides an overview of the county's arbitrage issues with schedules showing history of debt affected by arbitrage, the financial impact, and current status.

How do I know what types of services the expenditures support within the Business Centers?

• Appointed Officials and Boards:
  Includes financial transaction information within the operations of county administration, County Attorney, and Medical Examiner. Also included is the expenditures related to the county's partnership with to enhance Tourist Development (Sarasota Convention and Visitors Bureau), and Economic Development (Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County).
   
  
• Communications:  Promotes public and employee awareness of the programs and services via the following delivery systems: Access Sarasota Television, www.scgov.net, print operations, mail operations. 
  
  
• Capital Management Services:  Responsible for the design and construction of all capital improvement projects within Sarasota County. Services typically include conceptual, preliminary and final design and construction management, permitting, easement, and right-of-way acquisition, bid document development and bid phase services, surveying and inspecting, and technical consulting to operations groups.
  
  
• Community Services:  Delivers information, provides educational opportunities, provides access to parks, natural lands and open space, provides recreation program and events, and promotes historical preservation through: University of Florida/IFAS Sarasota County Extension, History Center, Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources and Public Libraries. 
  
  
• Elected Officials /Other Agencies: Includes financial transaction information within the Clerk of Circuit Court, Court Administration, Guardian Ad Litem, Property Appraiser, Public Defender, Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney, Tax Collector and Supervisor of Elections.
  
  
• Emergency Services: Responsible for saving lives and protecting property by providing Fire Protection, Emergency Medical Response, Beach and Pool Lifeguards at county facilities, Emergency Call Center (911) and Emergency Management Services.
  
  
• Enterprise Information Technology: Responsible for the provision of the technical infrastructure through: Application and data management, hosting operations, network/security, service management and workstation support, telecommunications and administration/management.
  
  
• Environmental Services: Responsible for sustainable water resources and waste management practices while balancing the needs of nature and people through: Utilities Planning and Regulatory, Regional Water Supply Planning, Irrigation Master Plan, Hydraulic Modeling, Environmental Planning and Regulatory, Surface Water Planning & Regulatory, and Solid Waste Collection and Disposal.
  
  
• Health and Human Services: Responsible for the coordination, provision, and assurance of accessible services to assure citizens’ health, safety, and well-being, and to promote a quality living environment for all communities in Sarasota County through Mosquito Management, program funded by Contracted Human Services,  and Health Services such as Health Department , Community Health Centers, Dental Services and School Health Services.
  
  
• Office of Financial Planning: Promotes fiscal stewardship and provides financial and resource management through:  Procurement Services, Employee Benefits and Wellness, Financial Services, Billings and Collections, Capital Assets, Economic Development and Safety and Risk Services. 
  
  
• Talent and Performance Management: Responsible for working with various business centers to foster an organization focus of performance excellence through: Human Resources, Organizational and Employee Development, and TPM Service and Technology Solutions.
  
  
• Operations and Maintenance: Responsible for the provision best practice-driven  operations and maintenance of the community’s assets and infrastructure through: Facilities Maintenance, Fleet Services, Field Services which includes potable water distribution, wastewater collection, reuse water distribution, stormwater conveyance, traffic signs and signals, road right-of-way, Horticulture Services which includes maintenance of all landscape, pest management, street trees urban canopy, athletic parks, beaches, neighborhood parks, and natural areas maintenance.
  
  
• Planning and Development Services: Responsible for smart growth planning and development resulting in sustainable neighborhood by providing a framework for smart growth through protection of natural and cultural resources, land use planning, growth management, zoning, land development, permitting, inspections, code compliance and geographic information services. Assistance is also available to stakeholders to facilitate understanding of key issues and priorities, including: comprehensive and neighborhood planning; neighborhood grants; housing and community development planning; rezones; special exceptions; development of critical concern and developments of regional impact.
  
  
• Public Works/Mobility: Responsible for the provision of a safe, efficient multi-modal transportation system using automobiles, bicycles, sidewalks, trails and transit.  
  
  
• Strategy Management Services: Strives to ensure the alignment of organizational planning and projects to the overarching enterprise strategy, facilitating and supporting the execution of these plans and projects through: Enterprise Analytics and Enterprise Geographic Information Systems (GIS).