2019 IMPACT Report - Sarasota County, Florida

8 Impact Report 2019 SCOPE OF YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT I n 1971, the citizens of Sarasota County adopted a Home Rule Charter in accordance with the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Florida. The Home Rule Charter sets forth a “commission” form of government under which a five member Board of County Commissioners is elected to serve as the executive and legislative body for the County. The County Commissioners appoint a County Administrator whose duties include the administration of directives and policies of the Commissioners, responsibility for the operation of all business centers, and provision of services under the purview of the Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners also appoints a County Attorney, who serves as legal advisor to the Board. The citizens of the County elect a Sheriff, a Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller, a Supervisor of Elections, a Tax Collector and a Property Appraiser, whose responsibilities and duties are set forth in the Home Rule Charter. The elected officials are responsible for all functions, duties and requirements prescribed by the Constitution and the general laws of the State of Florida. Additional functions may be performed as prescribed by ordinance by the Board of County Commissioners. The Charter Review Board, established by the Charter, consists of ten elected officials. On behalf of the citizens of Sarasota County, the Charter Review Board shall review and recommend changes to the County Charter for improvement of County government. Such recommendations shall be subject to referendum. The Public Defender and State Attorney positions are established by Florida State law for each judicial circuit and are elected at the general election by the qualified voters of the judicial circuit as other State officials are elected. The State Attorney appears in the Circuit and County courts within their judicial circuit and prosecutes or defends on behalf of the State all suits, applications or motions, civil or criminal, in which the State is a party, except in proceedings related to juveniles. The Public Defender represents any person, in Circuit, Juvenile and Appeals Courts, who is determined by the court to be indigent and (1) who is under arrest or charged with a felony, (2) charged with a misdemeanor, which is punishable by imprisonment, or violation of a municipal or County ordinance, (3) alleged to be a delinquent child or (4) sought by petition to be involuntarily placed as a mentally ill person. The Guardian Ad Litem program operates under the auspices of the Judicial Branch and is an advocate for the best interests of children who are alleged to be abused, neglected or abandoned, and who are involved in court proceedings. Sarasota County budgets funds to pay for the administration of this office. Nancy C. Detert District 3 Michael A. Moran District 1 Alan Maio District 4 Christian Ziegler District 2 Charles D. Hines District 5 COUNTY COMMISSIONERS