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Although the Sarasota County Commission voted to end its payroll deduction program for employees to donate to United Way or other approved groups, county constitutional offices have largely opted to keep the program in place for their workers. 

Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates, Clerk and Comptroller Karen Rushing, and Property Appraiser Bill Furst told the Herald-Tribune they plan to keep their United Way payroll deduction programs. 

“I just don’t see any reason to cut it,” Furst said. “People want to give to the United Way, and I don’t want to tell them they can’t.” 

The program has been in place at the Property Appraiser’s Department since Furst took over in 2009. 

The County Commission voted to sever its relationship with United Way after weeks of blasting the nonprofit for its use of Planned Parenthood as a referred service provider for its 211 helpline. Commissioner Neil Rainford, who is currently running for reelection, has recently used his opposition to abortion services as part of his campaign.

The break with United Way and opposition to Planned Parenthood came despite the fact that the agency is now legally-bound to follow state law and cease most abortion services after the mother is six weeks pregnant, and that the 211 line in Sarasota made zero referrals to Planned Parenthood during the 2022-23 fiscal year. 

Ford-Coates said her agency coordinates with United Way, a group she said fills vital needs to the community. 

“I’ve been working at the Tax Collector’s office − it’ll be 49 years this year − and we’ve always had the option of payroll deduction,” Ford-Coates said. 

Rushing pointed out that the Sarasota County Commission does not oversee her office; she is independently elected to oversee a constitutional mandate.  

“Our employees are so proud of their service to the community; I don’t want to take the opportunity away,” Rushing said. 

Offices without the payroll deduction program did not get rid of it because of recent pressure from the County Commission. A Sarasota Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the agency used to have a United Way payroll deduction program that has been out of existence for at least a year. 

Sarasota County Schools spokesperson Kelsey Whealy said the district also had such a program, but it was discontinued in 2021.  

“Those hired before that who may have selected the option and still have it active still have the deduction,” Whealy said in an email. 

A spokesperson for the Supervisor of Elections did not respond to an inquiry by The Herald-Tribune in time for publication.

County employees can donate directly to United Way or to a list of approved groups United Way directs the funds to. 

Since the commission vote, a six-week abortion ban went into effect in Florida on May 1. In a mass email, Jan L. Chester, Vice President of Philanthropy for Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, said the provider will cease abortion care for patients more than six weeks pregnant unless they qualify for  – such as rape, incest, and human trafficking up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, or to prevent “a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment” to the mother. 

“Under the six-week abortion ban, patients who need abortion care and are past six-weeks, must be navigated to other states with more access,” Chester wrote. “This is a devastating time for our staff, the patients we serve, and millions of individuals and families across the state. Our team is working around the clock to make sure that we have the resources and information needed to provide as much care and support as possible.” 

The County Commission voted to end the United Way payroll deduction program for county employees, as well as to cease funding to the 211 helpline because of its listing of the healthcare provider as a possible resource. 

Developer and philanthropist Hugh Culverhouse stepped with a donation to keep the 211 service running for at least another year.