Sarasota, Florida- Thinking about hiring a contractor? Then you will want to turn to a new website set up by Sarasota County that shares information on unlicensed contractors who have been cited for unlicensed activity.

The centralized database will be open to other government jurisdictions such as cities, towns and other counties that want to participate.

See also: Officials warn: Beware of 'travelers' and gypsies

Sarasota, Florida -- Financial experts from the worlds of banking, investments, nonprofit agencies and retirement planning will offer free advice at libraries around Sarasota County during "Money Smart Week @ Your Library," April 19 through April 27. 

Among the topics are budgeting; investing wisely; navigating the Medicare system; setting up wills, trusts and estates; dealing with landlord/tenant issues; and preventing identity theft. Scheduled presentations include:   

North Port, Florida -- Delinquent tax penalties start in April and the Sarasota Tax Collector has some advice to avoid them. 

To avoid a penalty, property tax payments must be made soon. So far, 91.45 percent of the tax roll has been collected, totaling more than $622 million.

"There are many ways to pay your taxes and avoid a penalty," Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates noted.