SARASOTA COUNTY Fla. (WWSB) - Sarasota County Commissioners decided Friday not to raise residents’ taxes to pay for stormwater protection.

The director of the county’s newly formed Stormwater Department, Ben Quartermaine, gave an update on current activities and the discussion of a proposed stormwater rate hike for 2026.

At a morning workshop, residents were also able to voice concerns about past and future flooding.

After attending multiple stormwater workshops, Sarasota County resident Kristy Molyneaux said this was one of the most productive meetings she’s attended recently.

“My house flooded three times with all the storms last year,” she said.

“I have been coming to all the stormwater workshops, and I have to say this is the first one that I actually felt like was a true workshop

See Full Page