Sarasota residents reject taxes

SARASOTA — For the fifth year in a row, the economy and jobs are the most important issues Sarasota County faces, according to a new survey of residents.

Another key finding in the survey, released by Sarasota County today, is a majority of residents, 57%, oppose any future tax increases or expansion of county services. The good news, at least for county officials: More than half of the survey respondents, 56%, say they believe the economy is “on the road to recovery.”

Susan MacManus, through the Florida Institute of Government at the University of South Florida, conducted the 2012 Citizens Survey for Sarasota County. The county has surveyed citizens for 21 years, according to a release. The 2012 poll was conducted through telephone surveys of 801 random residents.