September 2017 Archives

EDITORIALS

Life might be good, but many struggle

Sept. 10, 2017  |  Herald-Tribune

A recently released citizen opinion survey underscores one reason that Sarasota County has been — at least in the pre-Hurricane Irma era — an attractive place to live and visit: Ninety-seven percent of the respondents rated the overall quality of life as excellent or good.

The 27th annual survey, supervised by the University of South Florida, gave high marks to Sarasota County and its assets, as well as to county leaders. Those assessments were made even as respondents cited “taxes” as the second-most important issue facing the county and, for the third year in a row, ranked “population growth/new development” as the most important.

Three years ago, “population growth/new development” replaced “economy/jobs” as the most-cited issue, a sign that the real estate and construction sectors have overcome the Great Recession and its aftermath — a crisis of such magnitude that the growth and development became a non-factor. From 2008 to 2013, “economy/jobs” was the most urgent challenge cited by respondents.
Read More>