Legality of taxes to charities questioned

A move to block Sarasota County from giving tax dollars to private charities is gaining a little momentum.

The 10-member Charter Review Board entertained a proposal at its Jan. 27 meeting that aims to amend the charter to prohibit spending tax dollars on public and private non-profit organizations.

Kathy Bolam, who lost close election to the Charter Review Board last year, is proposing an amendment that would restrict county commissioners “... from distributing funds via grants to charitable, educational, civic, homeowner, neighborhood, arts, science, non-profit organizations through grants (Contracted Human Resources) and any other names for funding or types of organizations/groups not mentioned here in.”

In an email, Bolam asks rhetorically, “What section of the present Charter gives the Commissioners authority to spend citizens dollars on private organizations?” She also recommends against accepting state or federal funds for charities because those governments have budget problems too, and its still taxpayers' money.

The first sentence of Bolam's proposed amendment reads: “Residents/Citizens of Sarasota County reserve the right to directly fund by means of their own personal finances non-profit community organizations whether it be for charity, education, child care, self-help, the arts, science, beautification or neighborhood improvements.”

According to Bolam, in each of the last several years, the county has redistributed more than $5 million in taxpayers' money to local charities. In fiscal year 2005, the county redistributed nearly $8 million.

Last year, the county redistributed nearly $5.2 million in taxpayer dollars to 33 organizations including the Child Protection Center, Mental Health Community Centers, Senior Friendship Centers, and the Sarasota Family YMCA.

But Bolam also questions three recent grants: $500,000 to the Lemon Bay Playhouse; beautification funds for an affluent neighborhood, and tax dollars for a civic association that has a $100,000 trust fund.

So far, the Charter Review Board is listening. A committee has been appointed to review Bolam's proposal and report back in April. If the full board goes along with it, the amendment will go on the ballot.