No.
Though property taxes in Sarasota County have seen sharp increases, they haven’t doubled for most homeowners over the past five years.
The average homeowner’s property taxes in fiscal year 2020-21 was just more than $1,900 in Sarasota County. For fiscal year 2024-25, that number rose to $3,011.64.
A Sept. 29 Sarasota Herald-Tribune letter to the editor claimed that property taxes have doubled during the last five years in Sarasota County. Though the spike is notable, the increase comparing average bills from 2020 to 2025 equals roughly 57%.
The county’s total property tax revenue collections during that time frame increased about 64%.
Property taxes have been a hot debate this election season as Amendment 3, which would slash the tax for homestead properties, faces voters in November. If passed, the measure could cost suncoast cities and counties roughly $12 billion per year in revenue.
This Fact Brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Suncoast Searchlight partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
Sources
- Sarasota County Final 2025-26 Adopted Budget Book, pg. 347
- Statewide Property Tax Overview (2020) Sarasota County, pg. 11
- Statewide Property Tax Overview (2025) Sarasota County, pg. 11
