Terms & Conditions

Sarasota County Facts is one of several projects of the Local Government Accountability (LGAI), an independent 501(c)(4) nonprofit that investigates how local governments across the country manage public money. LGAI operates this site and is responsible for its content.

These Terms & Conditions (the “Terms”) govern your use of this website (the “Site”) and your participation in our communications programs, including our text-messaging (SMS) and email programs. By using the Site or opting in to receive communications from us, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site or opt in to our communications.

1. Acceptance of These Terms

By accessing the Site, submitting our contact form, or opting in to calls, text messages, or email, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated here by reference.

2. Text Messaging (SMS) Program Terms

Program description. By checking the text-message opt-in box on our contact form and providing your mobile number, you agree to receive calls and text messages from Sarasota County Facts and the Local Government Accountability. Messaging may include alerts, updates, and requests for donation.

Consent is not a condition of any purchase or donation. Providing a phone number and opting in is voluntary. You may submit the contact form without opting in to text messages.

Message frequency & rates. Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. Your mobile carrier is not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

Opt out and help. Reply STOP to any message to unsubscribe at any time; you may receive a single confirmation message acknowledging your opt-out. Reply HELP for assistance, or contact us through the contact form.

Your opt-in is never sold or shared. Your mobile opt-in information will not be sold, rented, or shared. No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. We may share mobile information only with the vendors that help us operate the messaging program, solely so they can deliver the service on our behalf, and only as permitted or required by law.

Consent recordkeeping (TCPA). When you opt in, we maintain a record of your consent — including the date, time, method of consent (the checkbox on our contact form), and the disclosure text presented at the time of opt-in — for as long as required by applicable law, consistent with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and related FCC rules. Calls and text messages are also governed by our Privacy Policy.

3. Email Communications

If you opt in to email updates and research reports, you may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email or by contacting us. We never sell or share your email address, and we use it only to send the communications you requested.

4. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction, and the account holder or an authorized user of the mobile number you provide, to opt in to our text-messaging program. The Site is not directed to children under 13.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Site and our communications lawfully and not to: submit false, misleading, or impersonating information; interfere with or disrupt the Site or its security; attempt unauthorized access to any system or data; or use the Site to harass others or violate any applicable law. We may suspend or terminate access for conduct that violates these Terms.

6. Intellectual Property

The content on the Site — including text, research, graphics, logos, and design — is owned by or licensed to the Local Government Accountability and is protected by intellectual-property laws. You may view and share content for personal, non-commercial purposes with attribution, but you may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works for commercial purposes without our written permission.

7. Disclaimers

The Site and our communications are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law. While we strive for accuracy in our research, we do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components.

8. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Local Government Accountability and its officers, directors, employees, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or relating to your use of the Site or our communications, including any text messages or message and data charges imposed by your carrier.

9. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes are effective when the revised Terms are posted on the Site, and we encourage you to review this page periodically. Your continued use of the Site or our communications after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

More broadly, LGAI expressly reserves the unrestricted right, at any time and without notice, to set, change, or redirect its course — including its mission emphasis, priorities, methods, projects, jurisdictions, personnel, structure, policies, and activities — in any manner it deems appropriate, consistent with applicable law. Descriptions on this Site of LGAI's practices, postures, or intentions speak only as of their date of publication; they are not promises, create no rights or reliance interests in any third party, and may be superseded, redefined, or withdrawn by LGAI at any time in its sole discretion.

10. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms? All correspondence is received through our contact form, and by mail: Sarasota County Facts, c/o Local Government Accountability, 1250 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700 PMB 5459, Washington, DC 20036.