Mother Nature has been exceedingly generous in the amenities she’s bestowed on Southwest Florida. Our top-rated beaches and magnificent web of pristine waterways—enjoyed amid abundant year-round warmth and sunshine—are why so many newcomers choose Sarasota County over all other possibilities in the Sunshine State.
The amenities we should be proudest of, however, are the ones we’ve bestowed on ourselves. These, of course, include an impressive list of educational and cultural amenities; which continuously attract newcomers wanting more on their family’s horizon than a picturesque sunset. As a community striving for a better brand of economic stability than we’ve gotten of late from tourism and development, it will ultimately be the quality of our public schools that will attract the businesses that help us diversify. Virtually any town on Florida’s two coasts offers plentiful recreational amenities; but the decision where to re-locate a business—or start a new one—is more apt to turn on the quality of an area’s school system rather than the sum of its beach and boating opportunities.
We should congratulate ourselves therefore for the steps we’ve taken over the years to improve the quality and output of our schools. In a state not renowned for the scintillating quality of its public schools, the voters of Sarasota County have gone to the polls time and again to reject mediocrity in their home district. Most recently, in 2006, we voted “Yes” to renew our 2002 pledge of setting aside one mill in annual property taxes to preserve our top-ranked schools.
On Tuesday, March 16 we are being asked to renew this pledge again at a time when its critical funding has never been more urgently needed. Please join us; first by showing up at the polls to have your voice heard on this important issue. Then if you believe as we do in the power of good schools to bring prosperity to a region, please vote “Yes” for another four-year continuation of the one mill. Early voting for the referendum commences Monday, March 1st. To learn more about the absentee and early voting schedule; or to preview a sample of the referendum ballot visit srqelections.com.
Homebuyers probably don’t see themselves this way, but as they step up to take advantage of the best housing values in more than a decade each becomes their own personal economic stimulus package, securing for themselves a fabulous long term investment even as they help rescue the economy from the mess it’s in. More likely, they see themselves as grand prize winners in the housing sweepstakes; smartly timing the market just as prices are bottoming, interest rates are at an all-time low and the first time homebuyer tax credit is on hand to add an extra dollop of icing to the cake. Moreover, if you also happen to be a newcomer to Florida your decision to move your primary residence to one of the least-taxed states in America will be the gift that keeps on giving.