Sarasota County Charter, January 2019

January 2019 edition 4 ARTICLE I POWERS AND SCOPE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT Section 1.1 Purpose. We, the people of Sarasota County, Florida, hereby avail ourselves of the opportunity to adopt a Home Rule Charter in accordance with the Constitution and the general laws of the State of Florida. Section 1.2 Name and Boundaries. The corporate name shall be "Sarasota County," hereafter referred to as the "County." The County's seat and boundaries shall be designated by law. (Amended 8/31/2004.) Section 1.3 General Powers of County. Under this Charter, the County shall have all powers of local self- government including all county and municipal powers prescribed by the Constitution and general laws of the State of Florida. No power, right, or duty of the Sarasota County Public Hospital District may be taken away, added to or altered unless, to the extent allowed by law, its governing body consents to an ordinance doing so or such ordinance is adopted after an advertised public hearing of the Board of County Commissioners and the ordinance is approved at a referendum. (Amended 8/31/2004.) Section 1.4 Special Powers of County. The County, operating under this Charter, shall have all special powers heretofore granted by law to the Board of County Commissioners, and shall have such additional county and municipal powers consistent with the Constitution, general law, special law approved by vote of the electors and this Charter. ( Amended 8/31/2004.)