The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County shares the 2017 State Business Tax Climate Index as compiled by the Tax Foundation. The report indicates that Florida ranks No. 4 best state for overall tax climate in the US. The index enables business leaders, government policymakers and taxpayers to gauge how their states’ tax systems compare. While there are many ways to show how much is collected in taxes by state governments, the index is designed to show how well states structure their tax systems, and provides a roadmap for improvement. The above chart shows the best 10 and the worst 10 states for the business tax climate in 2017. 

EDC Sarasota County

News of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus bringing a 146-run to a close this May sent shockwaves internationally in the entertainment world and locally in a community with its own history inextricably tied to the circus. Feld Entertainment on Saturday told performers in both traveling troupes for the circus that one tour would wind to a close May 7 after their final show in Rhode Island and the other would end its run on May 21 in New York. What the news of the final performances means for employees whose lives have revolved around the circus for generations remains unclear, but more news will come at a press conference today at Feld Entertainment’s Palmetto campus.

“This was a difficult business decision to make, but by ending the circus tours, we will be able to concentrate on the other lines of business within the Feld Entertainment portfolio,” says Juliette Feld, Feld Entertainment chief operating officer. “Now that we have made this decision, as a company and as a family, we will strive to support our circus performers and crew in making the transition to new opportunities.”

Plenty remains unclear about what will happen with Feld. While many circuses like Cirque du Soleil have permanent performance venues in places like Orlando, Ringling Bros. has always been known primarily as a touring circus. Feld Entertainment, the owner of the circus since 1967, announced in 2012 that it would move its corporate headquarters, including the circus, to a campus in Palmetto that also houses Disney Live, Monster Jam and other Feld properties. Many of those productions may utilize talent trained in the circus arts, but under brands like Marvel that appeal to families today.

Roughly 400 jobs could be affected with the end of the tours, but it remains unclear what the impact will be on the Palmetto campus, which in recent years has encouraged greater synergy between the operations of many Feld productions. Monster Jam, for example, relocated its car shops to Palmetto and the facilities can be used for motor vehicles in a variety of traveling shows.

The world learned of Feld Entertainment’s plans to close down the circus with the release of a letter from CEO Kenneth Feld on the company’s website. He noted the changing business of sales and acknowledged lengthy acrimony between the circus and animal rights activists, which led last year to the end of the use of elephants in shows. “Ringling Bros. ticket sales have been declining, but following the transition of the elephants off the road, we saw an even more dramatic drop,” Feld writes. “This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company.” Incidentally, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals herald news of the end of “The Saddest Show on Earth.” 

But in Sarasota, the circus has always remained more than a hot-button issue—or even simply a form of entertainment. Sarasota’s own history became forever intertwined with the Ringling entertainment empire after Charles and John Ringling moved to Sarasota and located the winter headquarters for the circus here in 1927. While the circus left the region in 1960, many circus families have stayed in Sarasota for generations, and the community remains a home to such modern circus stars as Bello Nock and Nik Wallenda. The Circus Ring of Fame, which on Saturday inducted Ringling descendent Henry Ringling North and the rest of this year’s class, remains an attraction on St. Armands Circle.  

A full transcript of Kenneth Feld's letter can be found at SRQMag.com

Editor's Note: This is the first in an eight-part weekly series profiling candidates for Sarasota City Commission.

Fredd “Glossie” Atkins holds the record for longest serving city commissioner in Sarasota history, and now looks to add four more years to his tenure. One of eight candidates running for two at-large seats on the board, Atkins hopes voters see the need for his experience in office. “I have the knowledge and experience and abilities the city is in dire need of now,” he says, “and I believe I am the one to deliver the expertise.”

Voters most recently encountered Atkins' name during his unsuccessful run for Sarasota County Commission, but while he was defeated by Mike Moran in a county-wide election, he won the support of voters within Sarasota’s city limits. But Atkins knows the dynamics of a local election in the spring will be very different from running in a partisan election as a presidential election unfolds. The race did give a chance to explore issues like growth and traffic management in the region, though the issues are not new to the long-time public servant. Atkins logged 18 years on the commission over two stints representing District 1. The first black Sarasota city commissioner, he was chosen by peers as mayor three times.

Today, he sees friction between the city and county on issues like homelessness. “I don’t think they are actually very far apart, but they need a different set of eyes looking into it,” Atkins says. “I have got the skills and ability, and I have a history of making decisions and getting things done.” What would consensus look like? That’s unclear, but Atkins balked a bit when asked whether the city needs a new shelter. “I think the Salvation Army has done one of the finest shelters the city could ever have,” he says.

While in the past, he has sometimes been known for bluntness at the dais, Atkins says he always served his District 1 constituency well. And he says his years at City Hall were times when things got done. “We never had a stagnant era while I was sitting there,” he says. As for today: “I’ll say they do a lot more talking than doing.”

A citywide election is scheduled for March 14, with a runoff likely on May 9. Other candidates include: Tahiti Park neighborhood leader Jennifer Ahearn-Koch; former prosecutor Hagen Brody; incumbent Commissioner Susan Chapman; Planning Board member Patrick Gannon; Gulf Business Systems owner Martin Hyde; pedestrian safety advocate Mikael Sandstrom; and former stockbroker Matt Sperling. 

Kate Rossi, executive vice president of NRT LLC, East Region, and Clark Toole, president of Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Florida, have beennamed to the Swanepoel Power 200 List, a prestigious ranking of the 200 most influential people in residential real estate. Rossi was named #53 nationwide and #10 among all of the women in the top 200. Toole was ranked #169.The Swanepoel 200 is one of the most comprehensive list of influential CEOs, thought leaders and senior executives assembled in the residential real estate brokerage business. Ranks are based on personal influence, industry tenure, decision-making power, their company’s contributionsto the industry, as well as growth potential and other key factors. 

Coldwell Banker

Music instructor Bobbi Morgan has brought a Musikgarten private practice to the Music Compound for young children in the Sarasota area. Musikgarten is the leader in early childhood music education, offering a multi-year program to help infants, toddlers and children in developing a love for music, while gaining the abilities to use it as self-expression. Different at-home materials such as CDs of the songs sung in class and guidebooks for parents, assist in reinforcing class room lessons while involving the whole family. 

Music Compound

The 9th annual Best of SRQ Local Readers’ Competition is seeking your vote! It is time to sound the alarm, rally the troops, take to social media and VOTE for your favorite local establishments and causes to be recognized in one of our most popular editions of the year. Once the votes are in on local eats, shopping, arts, luminaries and hotspots, the SRQ editors will publish the finalists and winners in the April 2017 edition of SRQ magazine. We hope you’ll share your favorite local experiences—from stellar sushi, most memorable on-stage productions to best pothole (literally and figuratively). 

Complete Your Ballot!