Sarasota County responds to governor’s executive order

SARASOTA –– With questions aplenty, two Sarasota County officials did a hastily called phone-in with area reporters Wednesday afternoon to respond to Gov. Ron DiSantis’ executive order locking down the state beginning Friday.

Early Wednesday afternoon, DiSantis issued the state-wide stay-at-home order and closing all but essential businesses after days of resisting pressure to do so.

Although Sarasota and Charlotte counties had not issued local stay-at-home orders, other counties such as Pinellas and Hillsborough counties had. The executive order specifically supersedes any local ordinances.

“It’s only two hours old,” Deputy County Administrator Steve Botelho cautioned during the call. “Everyone is reviewing it now and any questions we have will be routed back to the governor for clarification.”

Botelho added that based on their quick review the policies the county had in place to protect residents appeared to be in compliance with the new order.

Asked by the Sarasota Journal if next week’s county commission meeting would still take place, Botelho said that was under review by the county attorney’s office to determine the effect the order would have.

Botelho said he hoped they would have an answer to that by close of business on Thursday.

Emergency Management Director Rich Collins said the Emergency Operations Center remains at a Level 2 activation in support of the county health department which is the lead agency responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

The county, along with area hospitals, Collins said, would all “respond together” to any surge in the number of patients needing treatment for the virus.

“It’s occurring as we speak,” Collins said when asked about looking at potential spots such as hotels to handle a surge in patients.

With many people already remaining at home and others cancelling vacation plans, Botelho said the county was anticipating a drop in revenues particularly in tourist development taxes and gas taxes.

It was still too early to determine the exact impact which would not likely occur until the end of May, but the county’s budget office was running sensitivity models using the county’s sophisticated budget modeling software.

County commissioners were to have a budget workshop last week, but in light of the pandemic, that meeting was cancelled. The next budget workshop is scheduled for May 21.

Betelho also serves as the chief financial officer for the county.