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From
finding the right schools to registering your vehicle, moving to a
new area can be a challenging experience. This relocation guide was
prepared to help ease the transition.
RESIDENCY
To
become an official Florida resident, file a declaration of domicile
through the Sarasota County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 2000 Main
St., Sarasota, (941) 362-4066. You can download the form from
http://www.sarasotaclerk.com/FileLib/domicile.pdf.
A declaration of domicile is not an application for a homestead
exemption.
HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION AND TAXES
Permanent Florida residents don't have to pay taxes on the first
$25,000 of their home's appraised value. To file for a homestead
exemption, you must establish residency by Dec. 31 prior to the year
you will claim exemption, then file for exemption in January or
February. Contact the Sarasota County Property Appraiser at 2001
Adams Lane, (941) 951-5650.
The
Sarasota
County
property tax millage rate is among the lowest in the state.
Florida has no personal income tax!
VEHICLE REGISTRATION/DRIVER'S
LICENSE
New
Florida residents must register their vehicles within 10 days of
gaining employment, enrolling children in public school or
establishing residency. Register at the Sarasota Tax Collector’s
office, 101 S. Washington Boulevard, (941) 362-9898. Be prepared to
show your current driver's license, proof of Florida auto insurance,
prior registration certificate and ownership title. The fee is
based on the weight of the vehicle. Your automobile registration
expires at midnight on your birthday.
New
Florida residents also must apply for a Florida driver's license
within 30 days (but after they register their vehicle). The Florida
Department of Motor Vehicles is located at 601 S. Pompano Ave. S.
For an appointment, call (941) 361-6222. Bring proof of your
Florida vehicle registration, your out-of-state driver's license and
your Social Security card. If your out-of-state license is valid,
you only need to take a vision test. If your license is invalid, or
if you are a first-time driver, a written exam and driver's test are
required. A copy of the Florida Driver Handbook is available at
http://www.hsmv.state.fl.us/handbooks/English. You must provide
the vehicle for the driver’s test.
VOTER REGISTRATION
You are eligible
to vote if you are a U.S. citizen, a county resident and you will be
at least 18 years old by the next election. You can register at the
Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections Office at 101 S. Washington
St., (941) 951-5307, or you can register online at
http://election.dos.state.fl.us/regtovote/regform.shtml. You
must submit your valid Florida driver's license number or Florida
identification card number. If you do not have either of these, you
must provide the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Your voter registration card will be mailed to you.
QUICK FACTS
Location
Sarasota County is located on the Florida Gulf Coast between Tampa
and Fort Myers.
Communities in Sarasota County
Casey Key, Englewood, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Manasota Key, Nokomis,
North Port, Osprey, Siesta Key, St. Armands, Venice
Geography
573
square miles
35 miles of beachfront
Average Temperature Range
Annual: 61.2 – 83.8° F
January: 49.3 – 73.3° F
July: 71.6 – 91.7° F
Sarasota averages 361 annual days of sunshine
Average Annual Rainfall
52.08
inches
Population
More
than 325,900 residents
Median age: 48.9 years
Major
Access Roads
Interstate 75 and US Highway 41 (North-South)
University Parkway, Fruitville Road, Bee Ridge Road and Clark Road
(East-West)
Airport
Sarasota
Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is located at the intersection
of US 41 & University Parkway. (941) 359-5200
Peak
Season
The
area's peak season runs from February through Easter.
SCHOOLS
Rated
among the top 17 percent of U.S. school districts by Expansion
Management magazine (February 2005), Sarasota County was the
only Florida school district to receive the magazine's “Gold Medal”
rating. The ranking is based on graduation rates, college board
scores, student-to-teacher ratios, expenditures per student, teacher
salaries and the level of adult education in the district.
Public
Schools
Sarasota County (http://www.sarasota.k12.fl.us)
Manatee County (http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us)
Charlotte County (http://www.ccps.k12.fl.us)
Sarasota County Technical Institute (http://www.careerscape.org/scti/scti_index.html)
School
Reports
Sarasota County (http://list.realestate.yahoo.com/re/schools/fl/sarasota)
Manatee County (http://list.realestate.yahoo.com/re/schools/fl/manatee/)
Charlotte County (http://list.realestate.yahoo.com/re/schools/fl/charlotte/)
Private Schools
Bradenton Academy (http://www.bradentonacademy.com/)
Bradenton Christian School (http://www.bcspanthers.org/)
Cardinal Mooney High School (http://216.149.9.2/cm/)
New
Gate School (http://www.newgateschool.com/)
Out of
Door Academy (http://www.oda.edu/)
Prew
Academy (http://www.prew.org/start.htm)
Sarasota Christian (http://www.sarasotachristian.org/)
St.
Joseph Catholic School (http://hometown.aol.com/stjoeadmin)
St.
Stephens Episcopal School (http://www.saintstephens.org/)
Higher
Education
Keiser
College (http://www.keisercollege.cc.fl.us)
Manatee Community College (http://www.mcc.cc.fl.us)
New
College of Florida (http://www.ncf.edu)
Ringling School of Art (http://www.rsad.edu)
University of South Florida (http://www.sarasota.usf.edu)
QUICK FACTS
Location
Sarasota County is located on
the Florida Gulf Coast between Tampa and Fort Myers.
Communities in Sarasota County
Casey Key, Englewood, Lido Key, Longboat Key, Manasota Key, Nokomis,
North Port, Osprey, Siesta Key, St. Armands, Venice
Geography
573 square miles
35 miles of beachfront
Average Temperature Range
Annual: 61.2 – 83.8° F
January: 49.3 – 73.3° F
July: 71.6 – 91.7° F
Sarasota averages 361 annual days of sunshine.
Population
More than
325,900 residents
Median age: 48.9 years
Major Access Roads
Interstate 75 and US Highway 41 (North-South)
Airport
Sarasota Bradenton
International Airport (SRQ) is located at the intersection of US 41
& University Parkway. (941) 359-5200
Peak Season
The area's peak season runs
from February through Easter.
Accommodations
A wide variety of
accommodations are available, from campgrounds to luxury resort
hotels. Privately owned condominiums and cottages are also available
for rent.
State Parks
Myakka River State Park (28,875
acres)
Oscar Scherer State Park
Enjoy bird-watching, biking, walking and camping amid Florida's
natural swamps, palmetto brush and pines. Myakka State Park offers
guided boat and train tours.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
CABLE
Comcast Cable:
Sarasota 941-371-6700
Venice 941-484-0602
Englewood 941-474-9561
FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Sarasota County 941-861-5300
Longboat Key 941-316-1944
City of Venice 941-480-3030
HOSPITALS
All Children’s
Specialty Care of Sarasota
941-927-8805
http://www.allkids.org/centers/sarasota.htm
Bon Secours
Venice Hospital
941-485-7711
http://www.bonsecours.org/venice/
Doctors
Hospital of Sarasota
941-342-1100
http://www.doctorsofsarasota.com
Englewood
Community Hospital
941-475-6571
http://www.englewoodcommunityhospital.com
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center
941-782-2100
https://www.lakewoodranchmedical center.com/p1.html
Sarasota
Memorial Hospital
941-917-9000
http://www.smh.com
Poison Control
800-282-3171
LIBRARIES
Selby Public Library
941-861-1100
Fruitville Library
941-861-2500
Gulf Gate Library
941-861-1230
Venice Public Library
941-861-1330
Jacaranda Library (Venice)
941-861-1260
Longboat Key Library
941-383-2011
Elsie Quick Library, Englewood
941-861-1200
North Port Library
941-861-1300
POLICE/SHERIFF
City of Sarasota Police
941-366-8000
Longboat Key Police
941-316-1977
City of Venice Police
941-486-2444
City of North Port Police
941-426-3111
Sarasota County Sheriff
941-951-5800
POSTAL SERVICE
U.S. Post Office
800-275-8777
TRANSPORTATION
Sarasota County Area Transit
941-316-1234
Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport
941-359-2770
http://www.srq-airport.com
TRASH COLLECTION
City of Sarasota
941-365-7651
Recycling
941-953-6559
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