Barbara Ford-Coates has filed to run for re-election this November. Ford-Coates was first elected as Tax Collector in 1984 and has been re-elected nine times. "Serving as your Tax Collector has been an honor and an exciting challenge," Ford-Coates said. The Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office is responsible for collecting property, business & tourist taxes, issuing drivers’ licenses & vehicle registrations, hunting & fishing licenses, as well as other state and local services. Results matter, and under Ford-Coates' leadership, the office provides these services efficiently and with exceptional customer service. With a staff of 100 exceptional individuals, and a budget of $10+million, Ford-Coates maintains the lowest cost per capita of all Tax Collectors in Florida. Mrs. Ford-Coates has been honored numerous times for her dedication and accomplishments. Governor Lawton Chiles appointed her to the 1998 Constitution Revision Commission. In 2008, she was named the Outstanding Tax Collector in the United States. When the Girl Scouts celebrated their centennial, Ford-Coates was named one of 100 Girl Scout Greats, and in 2016, she was named by Thomson Reuters as a Public Sector Champion for Excellence in Office Leadership. “I hope the voters want to keep the same quality of service and efficiency they have experienced when visiting my office," Ford-Coates shared.

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