Sarasota County is reviewing our relationship with United Way. It's the right thing to do.

Mike Moran
·2 min read

During a recent Sarasota County Commission meeting it was uncovered that the United Way Suncoast 211 service is referring people to Planned Parenthood for “abortion expense assistance” and “abortion services.” It also appears that a juvenile can access controversial services online even after entering a date of birth without parental consent.

The Sarasota County Commission's discussion took place after United Way Suncoast demanded that we reconsider providing it with $109,381 by April 1 – or it would stop taking 211 calls from our community.

As the organization's finances were reviewed more closely, the commission learned that United Way Suncoast showed more than $45 million in cash/securities on its most recent Internal Revenue Service tax filing. The commission is seeking more information as to why the organization is asking the Sarasota County taxpayer to fund 211 when it has such cash on hand.

Furthermore, the commission learned that for more than 30 years Sarasota County has allowed employees to have deductions taken from their checks to support United Way. For more than three decades, some hardworking employees have been surprised to realize their contributions were supporting agendas they vehemently oppose.

No matter your position on abortion, the deeper question is why the “government” is involved in taking deductions from employees for ANY nonprofit, not just the United Way. I feel this is a fair question for the county commission and residents of Sarasota County to ask.

This information was uncovered by the Sarasota County Commission during a deep overview of the county’s “Human Services Advisory” system of grants and aid. The county commission has been steadfast in reviewing every detail during the reorganization. This new information is just one more example of why Sarasota County needs to continue intense oversight of its relationship with the nonprofit community and make sure organizations are held accountable to measurable results.

Sarasota County Commissioner Mike Moran speaks during the Sept. 28, 2023, groundbreaking ceremony for the new, $75 million Sarasota County Administration Center. Moran says the county will review its current contractual relationship with United Way Suncoast and may end it unless that organization immediately stops making referrals to Planned Parenthood.

In advance of our next commission meeting, I have asked staff to be ready to review any contractual relationship we might have with United Way – and be prepared to answer questions from commissioners about terminating our relationship with United Way if it does not immediately stop making referrals to Planned Parenthood.

I encourage you to visit www.211SuncoastCares.org, click “Search for Services," then click “View All Services” after typing in the date of birth of a 14-year-old girl – and then review the services available to her.

If you are not troubled by the results of your search, then I guess we can respectfully disagree.

Mike Moran represents District 1 on the Sarasota County Commission.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County may cut ties with United Way Suncoast