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SRQ DAILY Oct 31, 2016

Monday Business Edition

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Monday Business Edition

"If we can be disciplined, we'll continue to attract a stronger and stronger economy."

- Jeff Atwater, Chief Financial Officer of Florida
 

[Community]  Greatest Stress On Household Finances
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An open-ended question asking residents to identify what is currently putting the greatest stress on their household’s finances was first asked in the 2009 annual Citizen Opinion Survey and has been repeated every year since. The results show that general household-related finances put the greatest stress on Sarasota County households (19 percent), followed by property taxes (12 percent), taxes in general (7 percent) and health care costs (5 percent).  

[Workforce]  Atwater Warns of Worker's Comp Risks
Jacob Ogles, jacob.ogles@srqme.com

Jeff Atwater, Florida’s chief financial officer, spoke at a recent luncheon sponsored by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and Manatee Chamber of Commerce. Atwater spoke to the crowd about the difference in fiscal constraint between the state and federal government, but also spoke with SRQ about a financial challenge facing businesses in the state. 

You have warned that a 14.5-percent hike in worker’s compensation rates could hit businesses. How should the Florida Legislature respond to this problem in its coming session? The insurance commissioner approved the rate, so that 14.5 is now coming. And these business owners somehow need to load that cost to be sure everyone is covered with the appropriate insurance. So that cost is going to built in to my carpentry bill or to my furniture bill—whatever it is I’m buying—I now know there is a cost that is going to be built in for that increase. So a small business owner has to figure that out. Will everybody act fairly? Will some people start to do what they did a few years ago when it was so high they didn’t calculate it into their bill? People were starting to go without insurance, and that was very risky for the workplace. That’s a big issue for us. But the legislature is going to have to take a look at it and see. Can they find a way that these costs don’t continue to escalate? This 14.5 percent was just based on current information. It’s very likely that because the law was changed this may become more expensive every year going forward. That’s the big worry. I don’t know what the solution is that the Legislature might choose to come up with. They want to be sure the worker has quality insurance, but if it becomes more and more expensive, they are afraid that small business owners or other business owners will just not fully insure and they will be disguising it. That puts workers at risk. 

What should the next governor do to ensure this remains a good business environment for businesses and consumers? Fiscal discipline is really important, because consumers and businesses can see where something becomes too expensive, they will shy away and not take their resources someplace else. If we can be disciplined, we’ll continue to attract a stronger and stronger economy. If we lose that discipline, like other states have lost it, we are going to lose people. They are going to move to states where they feel a chance for success. We’ve got to find a balancing act. 

[Hiring]  Mosier and Strand at Advanced Mobility

Brooke Chase Associates, Inc., an executive search firm, has placed Josh Mosier as a purchasing and materials manager, as well as Clayton Strand as service manager, with Advanced Mobility a manufacturer of custom trailers and truck bodies in a wide variety of market segments. Mosier will be responsible for the sourcing and material flow that meets material volume and quality requirements on time throughout the manufacturing process for two facilities producing specialty vehicles. Mosier was most recently senior supply chain manager at Prince Castle where he was promoted to oversee the entire supply chain, leading cross-functional support. Strand will be responsible for transforming service operations to be proactive, customer focused, reliable and cost effective. With an extensive background as a service manager with Salco products, Strand focused on bringing the Consignment Department for customer based service and maintenance to profitability.  

Brooke Chase Associates

[Recognition]  Sheriff Tom Knight Holds Awards Ceremony

Sheriff Tom Knight presented several awards during a ceremony to recognize employees who have demonstrated exemplary service to the community. Deputies Adam Maio and Dustin Bell received the Life Saving Award for successfully intervening in a man's attempt to commit suicide. Deputies Mike De Leo and Shaun Martin also received the Life Saving Award for helping save a 21-year-old man. Deputies Robbie Martin, Esterlin Perozo and Joseph Scibelli also received the Life Saving Award for their efforts.  

Sarasota County Sheriffs Office

[Exec Moves]  Lopez Director of Redevelopment for Manatee

Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker has announced the creation of a new county department to oversee community redevelopment led by newly appointed department director, Geraldine Campos Lopez. The new department will oversee redevelopment efforts particularly in the county’s southwest district. Lopez received her bachelor of arts in architecture from Yale University, going on to earn a master certificate in city planning and urban design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Lopez is a certified economic developer through the International Economic Development Council. 

Manatee County

SRQ Media Group

SRQ DAILY is produced by SRQ | The Magazine. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and in the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. Senior Editor Jacob Ogles edits the Saturday Perspective Edition, Letters and Guest Contributor columns.In the CocoTele department, SRQ DAILY is providing excerpts from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. The views expressed by individuals are their own and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Ashley Ryan Cannon at 941-365-7702 x211 or via email

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