Michael Barfield – Florida Trident
News Article: Stealth tax proposal surfaces as Sarasota County spending outpaces revenue
“The Feb. 26 workshop materials outline two major revenue options: a Public Service Tax (PST) that could impose up to a 10% tax on electricity, gas, and water bills, and the creation of separate Municipal Services Tax Units (MSTUs) for the Sheriff and libraries.
The PST would not appear on property tax notices. Instead, it would show up as an added charge on monthly utility bills.
MSTUs, by contrast, would appear as separate line items on property tax bills. An MSTU is a special property tax district created to fund a specific service.”
(please read the full article)“….For taxpayers, the time to understand that direction is now — before ideas discussed in a workshop become permanent changes on utility bills and property tax statements.”