Overview

Sarasota County is a local government on Florida's Gulf Coast that runs public services for residents, businesses and visitors. Its departments maintain roads and water systems, operate libraries and parks, and manage planning, permitting and environmental protection. Fire and emergency medical services cover unincorporated areas and some municipalities, while countywide transit connects communities and neighboring routes. An elected commission sets policy and appoints an administrator to run daily operations, with taxes and service fees supplemented by funding from other governments. Established in 1921, the county government is headquartered in Sarasota, Florida.