Christian Casale/Suncoast Searchlight

Sarasota commissioners voted on Wednesday to halt the “acceptance, review and approval” of any major data centers until at least July 2027, but seemed eager to push for an outright ban in perpetuity. The move comes as data center developments become a flashpoint for local governments across the country, including neighboring DeSoto County, which approved a similar moratorium this week.

As Suncoast areas continue to grapple with the effect of short-term vacation rentals, the industry’s most dominant player has staked a major claim in Florida's premier 2026 election. Airbnb, the online marketplace at the center of local fights over neighborhood rentals, has contributed $1 million to the political committee supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, who previously backed legislation to curb local regulation of the industry.

The Sarasota County Commission on Wednesday approved a $91.8 million budget amendment to fund hurricane recovery projects, a stark reminder that efforts to return the area to a sense of normalcy after a rash of major storms remains a work in progress.

Local officials say an effort by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature to cut property taxes could be a knockout punch amid efforts by the state to erode home rule, strip power away from local governments and shift crucial community decisions up to Tallahassee.

Although fears of a recession over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies did not come to fruition, Sarasota County Commissioners were told recently that the nation’s military engagement in the Middle East presents a looming economic threat. The most immediate impacts of the Iran War are felt at the pumps and in the price of airfare and there could be other long-term ramifications.

During a special county commission workshop, staff planners outlined nearly $2.3 billion in transportation infrastructure needs over the next 13 years. But with only $573 million in projected revenue to pay for it, Sarasota County now faces a $1.7 billion shortfall.

Sarasota County Property Appraiser Bill Furst chairs a political committee that has moved millions of dollars from wealthy supporters of artificial intelligence, including the co-founder of Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT, to Byron Donalds’ candidacy for Florida governor.