April Happenings

No showers but lots of flowers here at this time of year! It's a busy month with the snowbirds leaving, the DeSota Heritage Festival which lasts the whole month, Seafood Festivals, Sarasota Film Festival, Earth Day-includes the Manatees, Boat Shows, taxes, and the state legislators trying to figure out what to do with their excess tax money! And of course, Sarasota and Bradenton both have these events with some crossover so you can join in whichever fits your schedule! Manatee County passed a 5 cent gas tax increase, effective Jan '07, to help with the road construction. Of course we're already taxed by the state but that money is distributed around the state, not necessarily to the area that paid it. Anyone can see that we have so much growth here, residential and commercial, that we need to constantly work on roads and bridges. Bridges - that's the great news because they all go over water! Creeks, Rivers, Bays, just waiting to be enjoyed! And another important item is the Homestead Exemption. The legislators are looking at that with an eye to improving it for full time homeowners. Many options are being considered so I will update you as they narrow down to 2 or 3 main ones. Of course, anything will be a help.