U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, announced legislation to make Donald Trump-era tax cuts set to expire in 2025 permanent. Crafted with staff for Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee, the taxation legislation may now serve as policy blueprint for Republicans running nationwide to retake a majority in the House.

Should Republicans win a majority, Buchanan is in line to be the senior-most Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee. That’s a perch from which he could advance the tax bill. The legislation boasts support from U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas and the current Ways and Means ranking Republican. Brady helped write the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 while Trump served as president. He’s retiring from Congress this year.

“In 2017, Republicans delivered the most comprehensive overhaul of the U.S. tax code in more than three decades and achieved historic economic growth,” Buchanan said. “Under the leadership of Leader Brady, we delivered historic tax relief to low and middle-income families and small businesses across all income levels. With Americans continuing to suffer under the weight of record-high inflation and an uncertain economic future, we need to provide some much-needed relief and certainty to hardworking families and ensure these tax cuts do not expire.”

As written, the bill would codify 23 provisions of the law set to expire in a few years. That includes a 20% deduction for small businesses, a child tax credit twice the level it was before the 2017 tax package was signed, and a high standard deduction allowing most Americans to obtain maximum tax benefits without itemizing federal income taxes.

“Making the historic Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent will lock in low taxes for families and small businesses struggling with record inflation, and create certainty for the pro-growth provisions that leapfrogged America to the most competitive economy in the world,” Brady said.

Buchanan’s office pointed to Tax Foundation analysis that projects a 2.2% increase in the U.S. gross domestic product long-term should the Trump tax cuts become permanent. 

“The results of TCJA were nothing short of stunning, but not surprising,” Buchanan said. “As someone who spent 30 years doing business, I know from experience that making our tax code more competitive means greater prosperity for small businesses and families.”

Of course, just the selection of Buchanan to carry the bill already signals growing influence for the eight-term Congressman. He has co-chaired five of six subcommittees of Ways and Means, and increasingly appears to be a frontrunner for the position. He also has raised $3 million for the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House Republicans pollical arm, and committed to raising $1 million more to support the effort to retake a majority in the House. 

Choosing a post-secondary education can be overwhelming. From a traditional college experience to technical or military training, today's high school students have many choices.

This Thursday night, students and families are invited to attend the 2022 College Night at Robarts Arena to explore the many options available to them after high school. Here, attendees will be able to meet with college reps who will answer questions about taking the best next step after high school. Local schools such as New College of Florida and State College of Florida will be represented, as well as colleges from across the country, like Rutgers University and Penn State. For students interested in pursuing a miliary career, recruiters from institutions such as the U.S. Military Academy will be on hand. And for those exploring a more technical path, information on career-bound programs from schools like Suncoast Technical College will be available.

“It’s never too early for our students to start planning for their futures,” said Dr. Brennan Asplen, Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools. “Whether their next step after graduation is postsecondary education, military service, or workforce training, we want our students to be lifelong learners. The school district is committed to connecting our students with resources & opportunities to help them achieve their dreams. This event is the perfect way for students and families to get a jumpstart on their plans.”

College Night is open to all students, not just high school juniors and seniors. Families are encouraged to attend to get a head start on discussing programs and admissions requirements for various schools, learn about financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and get assistance on how to choose the best college and degree. This free event will take place from 6:00-8:00 PM at Robarts Arena in Sarasota. For more information, call 941-927-9000 ext. 34756. 

In the September 2022 edition of SRQ Magazine, we interviewed Karen A. Holbrook, PhD Regional Chancellor University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campuses part of our In Conversation feature with educational leaaders about current trends in education. Below is an excerpt published in the magazine in which Holbrook shares her insights with SRQ readers.

What are the things that you are most excited about and that are most positive for kids in your institution or as a cultural phenomena?

There's nothing greater than the thought that we are going to have a new residence hall in the student center and have students that come from everywhere all over the world. We have an office of international affairs called USF world and we have a virtual international experience that our students can have. And we depend on the students that are coming up. Some of these kids are coming out of schools that are so impressive and they know so much already. And they've been exposed to so much learning, so much personal experience or individual experience that we really have to be sharp to keep ahead of them so that we give them the best possible experiences when they get here. It's just amazing. But I think the whole future is really, really exciting for us. 

To read the full article, click here.

Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates reminds all business owners that the 2022-2023 Sarasota County Business Tax is due by Friday, September 30th. The county business tax is required if you are engaging in a business, profession or occupation located within Sarasota County. Any business that has not received a renewal notice or a new business that has not registered should contact the Tax Collector immediately at 941.861.8300, option 3 or Info@SarasotaTaxCollector.com. The quickest and easiest way to pay is at www.SarasotaTaxCollector.com. A Business Tax Receipt can be printed immediately after online payment. Payments can also be mailed to 101 S. Washington Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34236 or placed in a 24-hour drop box located at the: Adams Lane entrance of the Terrace Building in downtown Sarasota, 101 S. Washington Blvd.; building entrance of the Mid-County Office, 6100 Sawyer Loop Rd.; north building entrance of the Anderson Administration Center in Venice, 4000 S. Tamiami Trl.; utility payment drive-thru “bypass lane” at North Port City Hall, 4970 City Hall Blvd. Customers wishing to pay in person are encouraged to schedule an appointment at www.SarasotaTaxCollector.com. While walk-in customers are accepted at all locations except North Port City Hall where an appointment is required. Walk in customers may encounter a wait or may be turned away if the office is at capacity. Any county business tax which remains unpaid after September 30th will be delinquent and additional money will be due. Businesses in the cities of Sarasota, Venice, North Port, and the Town of Longboat Key may also be required to pay a city business tax; contact city/town hall for more information. 

To learn more click here.

In 2017, Robin Reed-Pearson, director of medical staff services at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. She received a bone marrow transplant from a stranger and that transplant was a cure for her. In 2017 Nate Hansen, the operating room manager at HCA Florida Blake Hospital donated bone marrow to a stranger because in nursing school he saw a video that inspired him. He was always a blood donor and decided to donate bone marrow too. Each day caregivers at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital and HCA Florida Blake Hospital show up to care for our communities. Now caregivers will show up by participating in the Be The Match® registry drive, blood donation drive and organ donation education event to help save lives, like Robin’s and help the community like Nate. Caregivers at both hospitals will be signing up for the Be The Match® national stem cell registry, donating blood and learning more about organ donation at the We Show Up for Our Communities service events. The public is invited to participate as well. The events will take place at Sarasota Doctors Hospital -Wednesday, September 21, 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.and at Blake Hospital -Thursday, September 22, 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. Thousands of patients with blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma, need a blood stem cell transplant to survive. Most patients don’t have a fully matched donor in their family, that’s when they turn to the Be The Match® registry. By joining the registry your genetic type will be included in the search process for every patient in need of a genetically matched donor. Additionally, SunCoast blood centers need at least 150 units of blood donated each day to meet demand from local hospitals. More than 4,800 Florida residents are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant. 

To learn more click here.

Engulfed by breathtaking natural beauty on 84 acres of conservation land, The Retreat Sarasota stands apart from other meeting and event venues through its serene setting, altruistic mission, unique origin story and entrepreneurial startup. Established to support Sarasota’s most highly anticipated new non-profit, Resilient Retreat, The Retreat Sarasota is set to become the premier choice for social occasions, weddings, gatherings and corporate events. With inspiration and support from The Patterson Foundation’s Margin & Mission Ignition initiative, proceeds from the new social enterprise will directly benefit the non-profit’s programming, providing free and confidential evidence-based, trauma-informed services to trauma survivors, helping professionals and first responders. Debuting this fall, the brand-new property features a wide variety of indoor and outdoor event spaces, just minutes away from downtown Sarasota and easily accessible by three international airports. Inspired by the surrounding vast, verdant fields, oak hammocks and abundant wildlife, The Retreat and Community Centers have been designed and furnished to bring the beauty of the outdoors in, while honoring and respecting the local environment and utilizing sustainable resources. The Retreat Center features a commercial-grade show kitchen, overnight accommodations for up to 30 guests, including two ADA-compliant bedroom suites, an inviting arrival area, an open great room and a cozy dining room with seating for up to 30, a fireplace and al fresco dining. The Community Center boasts beautiful outdoor patios, indoor seating for up to 120 guests, a satellite kitchen and two breakout rooms that can accommodate up to 25 attendees each. Audio-visual technology, including WiFi, is available throughout both facilities. Outdoor spaces consist of a community garden, a reflection pond and an intimate gazebo, ideal for weddings, vow renewals and more. For rental inquiries, please contact info@theretreatsarasota.com. For general information please call 941-343-0039. 

To learn more click here.

Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) will host its annual black-tie gala, SPARCCle by the Sea, on Friday, November 18, 2022, at The Westin Sarasota. Proceeds go directly to
support SPARCC’s free and confidential programs and services offered to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, and their children, in our communities. This intimate and elegant fundraising event promises to be a magical evening with live musical entertainment by The Bay Kings, open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres, a delicious 3-course dinner, and exclusive curated live auction packages. This year’s event is Co-Chaired by local philanthropists and long-time supporters of SPARCC, Cathy Bachand, Barbara V. Gardner, JoAnn Heisen, Carla Malachowski, Bonnie McIntyre and Susan Wilson. A limited number of individual tickets and sponsorships are still available. For reservations or sponsorship information, visit www.sparcc.net/events. All proceeds support SPARCC’s mission to stop domestic and sexual violence in our communities. 

To learn more click here.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to announce the appointment of Sean Daniels as Associate Director and Director of The Recovery Project. He comes to FST from Arizona Theatre Company, one of the leading professional theatres in the Southwest, where he has served as Artistic Director (CO-CEO) since 2019. In addition to being the Artistic Director at Arizona Theatre Company, Daniels also served as Artistic Director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre and Dad’s Garage (which he co-founded), and Associate Artistic Director at California Shakespeare Theater and Actors Theatre of Louisville. In this new senior leadership position, Daniels will oversee Florida Studio Theatre’s New Play Development program, its Stage III Series, and lead the kickoff of the theatre’s newest endeavor: The Recovery Project. He will also serve as a resident director for all five of FST’s stages. With Daniels’ arrival, FST will launch The Recovery Project, a newly pioneered initiative working to heal the stigma of addiction and recovery through the development of new plays, theatre education programs, and outreach. The Recovery Project will serve both theatre artists and the public, focusing on those who need support and those who create the stories that expand our understanding of the world. 

To learn more click here.

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota opens its 27th season, Ever Onward, on October 2, 4:00 p.m. with a concert in the Virtuoso Violins Series presented at Sarasota Opera House. The Magnificent Markovs is two generations of concert violinists – Alexander Markov and his parents Albert and Marina – performing together in a family-friendly concert experience that also features Key Chorale and the Booker High School VPA Choir. Concert tickets are $30-$50; post-concert reception available for a separate charge of $35 per person. For more information and tickets, visit ArtistSeriesConcerts.org or call (941) 306-1202. The first part of the concert features the Markovs playing classical favorites by Paganini, Schubert, Prokofiev, and others.  Following intermission, Alexander takes the stage with Key Chorale, the Booker High School VPA Choir, an orchestra, a rhythm section, and his 24-karat-gold-plated six-string electric violin to perform “Caesar,” his original composition about the legendary Roman general and statesman. Classical, rock, and pop music combine in this four-part piece full of mystery, drama, color, and contrasts. Alexander’s stop in Sarasota falls between a just-finished European tour and an appearance at Carnegie Hall in November.  

STICKING WITH IT | Dasha Reich is always searching for inspiration.

Check out this link, our social media, or the September edition of SRQ Magazine for more about Dasha’s upcoming show at the Art Ovation Hotel, “Life’s Silk Road!” 

Read Here!

BANK BUYOUTS | The banking environment around Sarasota changed dramatically in the Great Recession.

Read more about the banking environment in Sarasota through this link, on our social media, or in the September edition of SRQ Magazine! 

Read Here!