Sarasota Government
Sarasota County attracts creative, dynamic companies of every variety; high-tech, information driven companies, research-based businesses on the leading edge of medical advances, and manufacturers that produce a wide range of products. In the past few years, major business magazines and nationwide surveys have awarded Sarasota County a number of superlatives. These rankings quantify what business leaders have been saying about the area for decades-Sarasota County is among the best places to live and work in America.
Sarasota County is a chartered county with home-rule powers governed by an elected board of five county commissioners and five elected officials: a Sheriff, a Clerk of the Court, a Property Appraiser, a Supervisor of Elections and a Tax Collector.
County government provides many services, such as libraries and bus service county-wide. It also provides municipal services such as fire protection and solid waste collection for unincorporated areas. Nearly 70% of the county population resides outside the cities of Sarasota, Venice, North Port and Longboat Key, all of which have their own municipal governments.
