SARASOTA – A pre-audit review of the 2019-20 city of Sarasota budget showed that the city budget fared better through the COVID-19 pandemic than originally anticipated – specifically the General Fund and Parks and Recreation District budget.
While sales tax and other related revenues for the general fund were down, those were more than offset by collections in interest income, right-of-way fees and nonrecurring FEMA reimbursements.
Because of that, revenues exceeded the adopted amended budget projection for 2019-20 by $427,389.
Meanwhile, cutbacks in spending were $3.65 million more thrifty than anticipated.
As a result, the overall unassigned General Fund balance increased by $203,557.
The city typically deals this type of audit for the entire budget in March, but Sarasota Finance Director Kelly Strickland said she decided to fast-track the preview partly to assuage concerns over how the city is weathering the pandemic and partly to give some context for newly elected city