To the Citizens of Sarasota County... I am pleased to present the 2024 Annual Report of the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller. This report underscores our commitment to serving the community and safeguarding public interests through transparency, accountability, and efficiency in our operations. I hope this report provides you with a sense of our obligations to the citizens of Sarasota County and the strength of our community. The Office of the Clerk and Comptroller fulfills many essential functions that benefit our residents. We ensure the integrity of the judicial process by maintaining accurate records of court proceedings, overseeing jury selection, and processing all civil and criminal court cases. Our office is the repository for public records, safeguarding vital documents such as marriage licenses, deeds, and mortgages. We keep citizens informed about county decisions by documenting and providing transparent access to the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners. We uphold fiscal responsibility through the prudent management of public funds, oversight of financial reporting, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Our office is a vigilant guardian of taxpayer interests, routinely conducting internal audits to verify that expenditures serve lawful and public purposes. This past Fall, we supported our community during a critical time: In the span of just over 60 days, tropical storm Debby and Hurricanes Milton and Helene wrecked Sarasota’s coast and upended the lives of our citizens. The unity and resilience shown among neighbors, colleagues, businesses, and organizations resulted in a coordinated effort to recover and rebuild, a process we will continue supporting in 2025 Safeguarding our community against fraud is a top priority. Through the Office of the Inspector General, we employ rigorous audit and investigative strategies to identify potential risks to your resources. Our participation in a statewide alliance enhances our ability to detect and address fraud, waste, and abuse throughout local government and to protect our most vulnerable residents under guardianship programs. These measures help ensure the security and integrity of our community’s resources. We offer a free Property Fraud Alert Service that notifies residents via email whenever a document is recorded in Sarasota County using their personal or business name, empowering property owners to initiate action against suspicious activity. We also inform citizens about prevalent scams, such as jury duty fraud. In collaboration with banking partners, we maintain advanced measures to detect and prevent the cashing of forged checks, thereby protecting your resources. Additionally, our office works closely with the Sheriff’s Office to monitor and address suspicious activity, further enhancing public safety. Working alongside the Florida Courts Technology Commission (FCTC), our office is engaged in initiatives that leverage technology to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of our court system. We have helped to establish case reporting protocols to ensure consistency and accuracy in judicial data across the state. Our office played a vital role in standardizing meaningful data, supporting case management processes, and improving the clarity of court records. We are engaged in the development of a new Court Content Management System (CMS) designed to expedite document processing from filing to disposition, thereby enhancing the efficiency of court operations. 2 | Karen E. Rushing Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller - Sarasota, FL
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