Common Cents for Sarasota County today announced the formation of its political committee to encourage the continuation of Sarasota County’s penny tax to provide funding for public safety, water quality and the environment, and other community needs. The citizens of Sarasota County will be asked to continue the penny tax on the 2022 Nov. ballot.  The referendum passed with more than 66 percent of the vote the last time it was up for renewal with the Sarasota Herald-Tribune calling it a “solid-gold performer.”

 The committee is co-chaired by a bipartisan group of community leaders representing all regions of Sarasota County including past and present elected officials. The honorary co-chairs include:  Citizen Tax Oversight Committee Chairman Justin Taylor; former City of Sarasota Mayor Suzanne Atwell; Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman; Education Foundation President & CEO Jennifer Vigne; former City of Sarasota Mayor and Sarasota County Commissioner Carolyn Mason; and former Sarasota County School Board member and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast VP of Communications Gina Taylor. Benefitting the county since 1989, the penny tax adds one cent to each dollar spent on purchases of up to $5,000. An independent study conducted in August found that over 20 percent of the funds generated from the penny tax are paid by visitors. Proceeds from the penny tax can ONLY be used for major capital projects and infrastructure improvements. It has paid for numerous projects throughout the county and in every one of its cities, ranging from equipment and facilities for police and fire agencies to water quality improvements to beach renourishments to road repairs.  

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