Suncoast Searchlight

1 week ago | suncoastsearchlight.org | Clinton Engelberger |Suncoast Searchlight

If Sarasota County residents want more than one bin to store excess trash, they’ll need to pay a monthly fee. Sarasota County started a new contract in late March with two vendors ––– Waste Pro and FCC Environmental Services. Each will cover a different section of the county and provide one free waste bin for residents. For an additional bin, residents pay $7.60 per month with a house served by Waste Pro and $12 per month for FCC.

2 weeks ago | suncoastsearchlight.org | Clinton Engelberger |Suncoast Searchlight

Florida passed a law two years ago to promote and grow charter schools, which, in turn, has led to a drop in public school funding. The Florida Policy Institute estimated the state spent $3.9 billion on vouchers for private education in 2024-25, up from the $3.2 billion during the prior school year. More students attending private or charter schools means less money for public schools.

3 weeks ago | suncoastsearchlight.org | Clinton Engelberger |Suncoast Searchlight

Although motorists can get a ticket without the flashing signs, the speed limit being enforced depends on the time of day. When lights are flashing in a school zone in the city of Sarasota, a special speed limit –– usually 15 or 20 miles per hour –– is in effect. If drivers speed more than 10 mph over that limit, they’ll be automatically ticketed a $100 fine by speed-tracking cameras.

4 weeks ago | suncoastsearchlight.org | Clinton Engelberger |Suncoast Searchlight

Though Sarasota residents might have been wary of drinking the funky-tasting tap water these past couple of weeks, it was perfectly safe to drink. The explanation behind the taste is free chlorine, which Sarasota County added on April 22 and stopped on May 6. Under Florida Administrative Code Rule 62-550.817, the Department of Environmental Protection recommends using free chlorine to disinfect drinking water from viruses and other harmful pathogens.

1 month ago | suncoastsearchlight.org | Clinton Engelberger |Suncoast Searchlight

While it’s not the standard for school boards across Florida, Sarasota County’s decision to host one school board meeting per month isn’t out of the ordinary. State statutes require school districts to host no less than one meeting per month, and many counties  — such as Osceola, Gulf, Polk and Palm Beach — take advantage of that minimum. Pinellas, Hillsborough, Alachua and Orange counties all host two meetings per month.