Opinion
Property taxes keep Sarasota County libraries thriving | Letters
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Sat, February 7, 2026 at 11:05 AM UTC
2 min read
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Property taxes boost Sarasota County libraries
Kudos for publishing the guest column by Winter Haven City Manager T. Michael Stavres on the many ways property taxes fund vital public services ("Here's what your property taxes really provide," Feb. 2).
But it didn't mention one important service funded primarily by property taxes: our public libraries.
Readers rip me for backing a Florida income tax. I apologize | Opinion
In Sarasota County last year, nearly 2.8 million items were borrowed from our excellent public library system, and more than 166,000 people attended library programs and events.
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Our library system provides access to a wealth of books, audio books, magazines, movies and so much more – and at no cost to those who use these resources.
Talk about affordability!
Ilene Denton, vice president, Library Foundation for Sarasota County, Sarasota
Praise for Buchanan's health care role
It is with deep gratitude that I want to share the impact Congressman Vern Buchanan has had on improving health care for his constituents, as well as the people of Florida and the nation.
His leadership during his 10 terms in Congress has been a guiding force in advancing innovation and practical solutions in health care.
I lead BayCare Health System, the region’s largest academic health system that is building what will be Manatee County’s only not-for-profit hospital when it opens in 2028.
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BayCare’s mission to improve the health of all we serve includes working with our elected leaders to improve access to care.
Rep. Buchanan has been a true partner in this vision.
In his leadership as chair of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, Rep. Buchanan has embraced new solutions to expanding access to care, such as the Hospital-at-Home waiver program that allows patients to heal in an environment they choose.
Another example: promoting individual ownership of health through incentivizing wearables technology.
Health care delivery in this country is incredibly complex, but leaders like Rep. Buchanan ensure we keep moving forward.
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We all owe the congressman our appreciation for his leadership.
Stephanie Conners, president and CEO, BayCare Health System, Clearwater
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This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Property taxes fuel Sarasota County's great library system | Letters