[0:02] test test test test test.

[0:04] >> chair: we are going to call

[0:05] this meeting to order.

[0:06] Okay.

[0:08] >> and I know there's one we

[0:15] need a -- there was one we need

[0:15] a supermajority on.

[0:17] I was in your seat, but

[0:18] commissioner cornell is about

[0:19] five minutes out, so we're going

[0:22] to get started f. We need to go

[0:22] slowly.

[0:23] >> chair: we'll go slow.

[0:24] >> well, I guess, we have four

[0:26] people here, so we would need a

[0:27] unanimous if he is not in the

[0:28] room.

[0:29] >> chair: okay.

[0:30] All right.

[0:31] Welcome back, everyone.

[0:33] The alachua county board of

[0:34] county commissioners convenes

[0:35] this public hearing on the

[0:36] alachua

[0:38] alachua county 2027

[0:41] proposed miltage rates and

[0:41] representative budget as

[0:43] required by florida statutes 129

[0:46] and 200 and as advertided in our

[0:48] truth in millage notices.

[0:50] If anyone is here for the

[0:52] purpose of contesting their

[0:54] assessment, a petition shall be

[0:57] filed by 5:00 P.M.

[0:57] SEPTEMBER 14th.

[0:58] >> we jump ahead to the budget.

[1:00] We need to do the assessments

[1:01] first.

[1:02] I'm sorry.

[1:03] >> chair: that's the only thing

[1:04] I have.

[1:05] I'm reading what I have been

[1:06] given.

[1:09] >> the first item is going to be

[1:15] the fiscal year 2027 fire

[1:15] services non-ad valorem

[1:16] assessment final rate

[1:17] resolution.

[1:18] >> that was good information.

[1:18] >> chair: good information.

[1:19] >> now he is going to have to

[1:23] read the script.

[1:24] >> MADAM Chair, this is the

[1:25] fires services non-ad valorem

[1:27] services assessment final rate

[1:31] resolution.

[1:33] Existing rate that we have.

[1:37] Tier 1 is 132.47 per parcel.

[1:41] Tier 2 is $7.28 per equivalent

[1:42] benefit unit.

[1:51] The fy '26-27 expected revenue

[1:52] is 24,420,271.

[1:55] We would recommend you adopt the

[1:58] fire service service rate for

[2:02] 26-27 and authorize the chair to

[2:03] forward the roll to the tax

[2:05] collector.

[2:06] >> MADAM Chair?

[2:08] >> chair: I thought you said the

[2:08] motion.

[2:09] >> yeah, no, you

[2:10] I was going to

[2:11] say the motion.

[2:12] All right, I move that we adopt

[2:15] the fire assessment final fire

[2:16] service final assessment rate

[2:18] resolution for fiscal year

[2:19] 2026-27 and authorize the chair

[2:22] to certify the non-ad valorem

[2:22] assessment roll to the tax

[2:23] collector.

[2:23] >> second.

[2:24] >> chair: okay, we have a motion

[2:25] and a second.

[2:26] Do we have any comments on the

[2:28] fire services non-ad valorem

[2:28] assessment?

[2:29] Please come forward.

[2:31] State your name and you'll have

[2:34] up to three minutes.

[2:36] >> james carington.

[2:41] I live here at 10015 northwest

[2:44] 52nd terrace, gainesville,

[2:46] florida, 32653.

[2:48] I definitely am a fan of the

[2:48] fire department.

[2:52] Watching so many issues

[2:56] especially with 9/11 coming so

[2:58] shortly after -- I mean, 25

[3:02] years or whatever is, you know,

[3:05] i want to thank all our

[3:06] firefighters and emergency

[3:08] medical people.

[3:12] But I do want to make the

[3:14] commission aware that we need a

[3:18] better way than just assessing

[3:22] homeowners, fire protection.

[3:25] I've never seen a fire hose even

[3:29] to empty the fire hydrants at

[3:33] brook point where I live.

[3:35] A fire truck comes out there

[3:38] when an emergency medical person

[3:40] ask needed.

[3:41] -- is needed, but it doesn't

[3:43] seem to ever come out there for

[3:48] any other reasons in the 29

[3:54] years that I've lived there.

[3:58] So the simply put, the

[4:01] assessment is not -- we can

[4:03] afford it out there.

[4:05] I like paying my taxes.

[4:08] It needs to be done.

[4:11] But now my problem is is that

[4:15] all of us is that's an old

[4:16] community.

[4:18] Nobody's working anymore.

[4:22] And this assessment is what?

[4:25] 33% higher than last year's?

[4:27] Do we know what this is.

[4:30] >> it's staying the same?

[4:31] >> huh?

[4:32] >> it's remaining the same as

[4:34] last year.

[4:34] >> $644?

[4:41] >> it's remaining the same.

[4:43] >> it MAY be also a valuation

[4:45] because our assessment is based

[4:46] on value.

[4:47] You have tier 1 --

[4:48] >> chair: right, the property

[4:49] appraiser MAY have increased the

[4:50] value of your home, which

[4:52] increases your EBUs but we

[4:53] have not had

[4:54] increased the taxes

[4:55] at all.

[4:57] >> okay, that's a good way and

[4:59] that's how we've juggled it all

[5:02] along property appraisers with

[5:03] taxes -- millage rates we could

[5:05] never get those straight and

[5:06] still haven't gotten them

[5:07] straight.

[5:10] But simply it's too much.

[5:12] Thank you.

[5:14] >> chair: thank you.

[5:19] Any other comments?

[5:21] >> MADAM Chair, jim konish.

[5:23] I'm an expert in florida

[5:25] taxation and utility law.

[5:27] You had a press release trying

[5:31] to duck the commotion caused by

[5:33] gru jacking their fire

[5:35] assessment up simultaneous with

[5:37] shifting stormwater and solid

[5:39] waste off the gru bill onto the

[5:39] trim notices.

[5:40] >> this is for the fire

[5:41] assessment though.

[5:43] >> yes but you have been

[5:44] differentiating your flat lining

[5:46] of all these fees from that.

[5:48] Because people blame you for

[5:49] that as you know.

[5:50] Your blame for what goes on in

[5:51] the municipality.

[5:52] I just want to make a note of

[5:54] the simple fact out there.

[5:57] Now, in with the trim notice,

[6:02] you talk about hardship

[6:02] assistance.

[6:03] But you don't give any, and let

[6:06] me explain why.

[6:07] In the alachua county code, you

[6:09] have a number of sections that

[6:11] provide for hardship

[6:11] assistance.

[6:13] The applicant must apply every

[6:13] year.

[6:15] It's administered by the alachua

[6:17] county department of community

[6:18] support services, there's no one

[6:20] in the office out by the health

[6:20] department.

[6:21] It's abandoned.

[6:23] And there's some at home workers

[6:25] that maybe can get through to

[6:27] them and maybe you can't.

[6:27] Ma'am.

[6:30] It's not funny because people

[6:32] may lose their homes over these

[6:34] non-ad valorem assessments.

[6:38] Now, the form you need to get

[6:41] this assistance is not available

[6:41] online.

[6:44] And when you ask for it, they

[6:45] kind of imply that they -- that

[6:48] you have to prove you're a

[6:49] homestead owner to get it which

[6:52] is a flagrant violation of the

[6:53] public records law.

[6:55] I did get a form emailed today

[6:57] but they don't make them readily

[6:58] available because they don't

[7:01] want anyone to have the help.

[7:03] Few important things to note.

[7:06] Number one, the same standards

[7:11] apply to all four non-ad valorem

[7:12] assessments so if you qualify

[7:15] for fire, you automatically

[7:19] qualify for the whole suite of

[7:20] four non-ad valorem

[7:23] assessments.

[7:26] Moreover, there really is no

[7:27] deadline because at anytime in

[7:30] the year you can apply for the

[7:32] next year and if you get it, it

[7:34] there is a way to force the tax

[7:35] collector to take the money away

[7:37] from you and give it back to the

[7:39] property owner going back three

[7:39] years.

[7:41] So this whole thing there is

[7:45] some hard deadline to ask for

[7:47] hardship assistance is, is, is

[7:51] misleading at the very minimum.

[7:55] So in the city of gainesville,

[7:57] 16 people despite the huge

[7:59] increase in these non-ad valorem

[8:00] assessments have qualified so

[8:02] far.

[8:03] 16.

[8:05] So I will be talking about this

[8:07] matter with respect to all your

[8:08] non-ad valorem assessments to

[8:10] try to explain to people what

[8:14] these things are, you don't

[8:15] dispute it with the value

[8:16] adjustment board.

[8:20] You dispute it with the unit of

[8:21] government imposing the non-ad

[8:22] valorem assessment.

[8:23] That's a totally different

[8:24] process.

[8:24] >> chair: thank you.

[8:25] >> thank you.

[8:25] >> chair: I'll pass the gavel

[8:26] back to you.

[8:29] We are on the non-ad valorem

[8:29] fire assessment.

[8:30] We have a motion on the floor.

[8:32] And that was public comment.

[8:32] We're closing public comment,

[8:34] and we will move it back to the

[8:35] board.

[8:35] >> chair: okay.

[8:36] Any further discussion?

[8:38] All those in favor, say aye.

[8:39] Any opposed?

[8:41] Motion passes.

[8:41] Unanimously.

[8:42] Okay.

[8:44] MR. Clerk, next item.

[8:45] >> MR. Chair up next is in

[8:47] fiscal year '27 solid waste

[8:48] non-ad valorem same final rate

[8:49] resolution and the recommended

[8:50] action is to adopt the solid

[8:53] waste final assessment

[8:54] resolution for fiscal year

[8:55] 26-27.

[8:56] And authorize chair to certify

[8:57] the solid waste non-ad valorem

[8:59] assessment roll to the tax

[8:59] collector.

[9:00] >> chair: okay and the solid

[9:01] waste rates will re main the

[9:03] same again and go ahead, you're

[9:04] recognized.

[9:05] >> MR. Chair, as you said, the

[9:07] solid waste will remain the

[9:08] same, approving the waste

[9:10] assessment rates for fiscal year

[9:11] 26-27 will allow the county to

[9:15] collect approximately

[9:15] $13 million in non-ad valorem

[9:16] assessments to fund the

[9:18] universal curbside collection

[9:20] rural collection center, and

[9:21] solid waste management

[9:22] programs.

[9:25] And you have the breakout based

[9:26] upon the accounts that are

[9:27] there.

[9:30] Staff is recommending approval

[9:31] adopting of the resolution and

[9:34] authorizing the chair to certify

[9:35] the assessment roll to the tax

[9:36] collector.

[9:38] >> so moved.

[9:38] >> second.

[9:39] >> chair: got a motion and a

[9:41] second to adopt the solid

[9:41] waste.

[9:42] Any discussion?

[9:43] Any public discussion on this

[9:44] item?

[9:46] MR. Konish, welcome back.

[9:49] >>> sir, I would reiterate again

[9:51] that all citizens are entitled

[9:54] at any time to apply for a

[9:57] hardship exemption from the

[9:58] stormwater non-ad valorem

[9:59] assessment, which will be

[10:02] combined with the ad valorem

[10:03] taxes, and if not paid could

[10:05] trigger sale of a tax

[10:06] certificate and loss of your

[10:07] property, sir.

[10:10] There is a fundamental

[10:12] difference between an ad valorem

[10:16] assessment and a non-ad valorem

[10:16] assessment.

[10:18] The first difference is ad

[10:21] valorem assessments are based on

[10:22] value, non-ad valorem

[10:24] assessments are not based on

[10:24] value.

[10:27] Ad valorem assessments are

[10:30] imposed by a taxing authority.

[10:32] Non-ad valorem assessments are

[10:36] imposed by a unit of city

[10:36] government.

[10:39] So to challenge that, you have

[10:42] to go to public works handling

[10:43] solid waste.

[10:45] As a matter of fairness, if I'm

[10:47] paying for the rural collection

[10:50] center, and using it, I don't

[10:53] need curbside collection.

[10:55] so I don't think it serves any

[10:59] public purpose to have two solid

[11:01] waste assessments forcing you to

[11:04] have curbside collection on a

[11:06] second home.

[11:09] Like on the river.

[11:11] That's ridiculous.

[11:13] And that's exploitive.

[11:14] Thank you.

[11:15] >> chair: thank you,

[11:16] MR. Konish.

[11:16] Anyone else?

[11:17] All right, back to the board,

[11:18] any further discussion?

[11:21] >> wait, we got another one.

[11:21] Another gentleman.

[11:23] >> chair: oh, yeah, please, come

[11:23] forward.

[11:24] Introduce yourself.

[11:28] >> james carington, 10015

[11:29] northwest 52nd terrace,

[11:33] gainesville, florida.

[11:37] Again, my neighborhood and where

[11:41] I live which is city of alachua

[11:44] although it's a gainesville

[11:46] address, does a wonderful job of

[11:49] picking up our solid waste.

[11:53] I'm not sure that any of my

[11:55] neighbors even know where there

[11:58] is solid waste collection

[11:59] center.

[12:01] I think the rate needs to be

[12:03] based on something other than

[12:06] just across the board simply

[12:09] put, everybody's going to pay

[12:10] for it.

[12:13] We can certainly afford it, and

[12:14] we'll continue to pay for it if

[12:16] that's what you vote on, but

[12:21] there needs to be a greater look

[12:24] into this than just passing it

[12:24] simply.

[12:24] Thank you.

[12:26] >> chair: thank you.

[12:28] Anyone else?

[12:31] Going once, going twice, bring

[12:33] it back to the board.

[12:35] Any discussion by the board?

[12:37] All in favor, aye.

[12:37] Opposed?

[12:38] ken cornell is back in the

[12:39] room.

[12:39] Okay.

[12:40] Next item, MR. Clerk.

[12:42] >> MR. Chair, the fiscal 2027

[12:43] stormwater non-ad valorem

[12:44] assessment final rate resolution

[12:45] adoption hearing.

[12:47] And the recommended action is to

[12:48] adopt the stormwater final

[12:50] assessment resolution for fiscal

[12:52] year 2026-27, and authorize the

[12:55] chair to certify the stormwater

[12:56] non-ad valorem assessment roll

[12:57] to the tax collector.

[12:59] >> so this one is the actual

[13:00] stormwater assessment and again

[13:01] it remains the same.

[13:06] You're recognized.

[13:08] >> the rate will remain at

[13:09] $60 per equivalent residential

[13:12] eunice, and will generate a mx

[13:13] maximum estimated of

[13:15] $3.6 million in revenue.

[13:16] >> I move we adopt the

[13:18] stormwater final assessment

[13:20] resolution for fiscal year

[13:21] 2026-27 and authorize the chair

[13:24] to certify the stormwater non-ad

[13:25] valorem assessment roll to the

[13:27] tax collector.

[13:29] >> chair: got a motion and a

[13:29] second.

[13:29] Any discussion?

[13:31] All right, back to the public.

[13:34] MR. Konish, welcome back.

[13:35] >>> MR. Chair, I would like a

[13:37] little leeway to try to educate

[13:38] people.

[13:39] >> you got three minutes, takes

[13:40] a much time as you need in

[13:40] that.

[13:41] >> so I'm going to -- with the

[13:44] city of gainesville, I'm

[13:45] challenging mine.

[13:47] And I expect -- I suggest

[13:49] everybody take a close look at

[13:51] what they're doing.

[13:54] They're quadruple the price at

[13:56] $150 an e, u instead of 40 and

[13:58] their methodology is weak with

[13:59] respect to the duck pond and

[14:02] many other neighborhoods.

[14:02] Systematically.

[14:05] But it's important to note that

[14:07] stormwater is estimated.

[14:11] It's polluted.

[14:14] It's billed up front.

[14:15] Annually.

[14:16] Discount for early payment,

[14:19] penalties apply.

[14:22] As with the other four non-ad

[14:24] valorem assessments for fire and

[14:26] solid waste, other three for a

[14:29] total of four, there is hardship

[14:29] exemption.

[14:31] And usually when you get it for

[14:34] fire, you get the whole suite

[14:36] that can be done anytime, and if

[14:37] it's wrong for next year, it was

[14:38] wrong probably for the last

[14:39] three years, and you can get

[14:40] your money back.

[14:41] Believe it or not.

[14:43] There is a mechanism to do

[14:43] that.

[14:44] And not that you would want

[14:46] anyone to do that because if

[14:48] that happens you have to pay it

[14:49] back out of general funds.

[14:52] So that's why you know these

[14:53] forms are not floating around.

[14:54] That's why you don't have

[14:56] someone when you're walking in

[14:57] the door offering you this

[14:59] because you don't want to pay

[15:01] people stormwater, you'd rather

[15:03] them just eat it.

[15:05] If the city of gainesville, they

[15:07] estimate out of stormwater,

[15:09] tring they're going to

[15:09] generate -- they think they're

[15:11] going to generate $11.6 million

[15:15] and they estimate $1500 to

[15:17] $3,000 in hardship exemptions

[15:20] and sir, it would be surprising

[15:22] to me if you surpassed these

[15:23] numbers.

[15:27] Given how secret this

[15:30] statutorily mandated mechanism

[15:31] is because of your policies.

[15:32] Thank you.

[15:32] >> chair: thank you,

[15:33] MR. Konish.

[15:34] So the city's getting a little

[15:36] preview of MR. Konish's comments

[15:36] on thursday.

[15:38] Ours is $3.6 million.

[15:43] Next speaker, please.

[15:47] >> james carington, 10015

[15:47] northwest 52nd terrace,

[15:49] gainesville, florida.

[15:51] We in brook point don't pay for

[15:54] any stormwater runoff.

[15:58] And I'm just wondering, I

[16:00] wonder, I can't contribute to

[16:04] the taxing authority for our

[16:05] neighborhood, we all live on

[16:08] turkey creek or a branch

[16:08] thereof.

[16:09] >> chair: thank you.

[16:09] Thank you, sir.

[16:10] All right, anyone else?

[16:12] All right, back to the board.

[16:13] Commissioner prizzia, do you

[16:13] have --

[16:14] >> no, I just -- we do have our

[16:15] community support services

[16:17] office here, so I thought maybe

[16:19] they could share with us their

[16:20] operating hours, when there are

[16:22] people on site, and how people

[16:23] can access the hardship

[16:27] exemption form.

[16:28] Recognized.

[16:29] >> thank you, MR. Chair.

[16:30] Claudia tuck, director of

[16:32] alachua county community support

[16:32] services.

[16:34] We are actually open 24/7

[16:36] effectively many of our programs

[16:38] operate we have residential

[16:39] program, we also have the crisis

[16:41] center, and victim services that

[16:42] work after hours.

[16:44] We have 97 FTEs, and about 80

[16:46] positions are filled.

[16:48] And most of the employees are in

[16:50] the office monday through friday

[16:51] 8:30 to 5 oo clock.

[16:52] however, many of our staff are

[16:54] out in the field you know more

[16:56] than half of our social services

[16:57] staff are out in the field

[17:00] visiting clients.

[17:01] So it will varate times.

[17:02] >> chair: so folks -- if they

[17:03] want to request a hardship

[17:03] exemption.

[17:05] >> they do have to call and that

[17:08] are on wereobe site -- that's on

[17:09] our web site.

[17:11] Right now we're in the midst of

[17:13] making our forms ada compliant,

[17:15] that's one of them so that's why

[17:17] it's not online and we can go

[17:19] back several years.

[17:20] >> chair: gu u you

[17:21] gu -- you

[17:22] good?

[17:23] Anything else?

[17:25] All in favor, aye.

[17:28] Opposed that passes.

[17:29] >> MR. Chair, fiscal 2012 sugar

[17:31] to the oaks cedar ridge special

[17:33] districts for non-ad valorem

[17:36] assessment rates adoption

[17:36] hearing.

[17:37] And had recommended action is to

[17:43] adopt the sugarfoot oaks cedar

[17:46] ridge special assessment

[17:47] district final non-ad valorem

[17:47] assessment rate.

[17:48] >> we got a motion.

[17:49] And a second.

[17:52] Any further discussion?

[17:53] >> can I just see the gentleman

[17:56] in the back?

[17:57] Thank you.

[17:58] >> there he is, we appreciate

[17:58] you.

[17:59] All right, any public discussion

[18:00] to the sugarfoot?

[18:01] Back to the board.

[18:03] All those in favor, say aye.

[18:03] Any opposed?

[18:08] That motion is unanimous.

[18:08] >> chair: good job.

[18:09] >> chair: okay, MR. Clerk, next

[18:09] iitm.

[18:11] >> that takes us to fiscal year

[18:13] 2027-public hearing to adopt the

[18:14] tentative millage rates and

[18:14] tentative budget.

[18:15] >> read the script.

[18:18] >> MR. Chair, I just wanted to

[18:19] explain real quick because this

[18:20] came up with the first motion

[18:21] and then was mentioned again in

[18:22] the second, the way our fire

[18:25] assessment works at the a

[18:26] two-tier process.

[18:27] The first tier is a plat

[18:28] flat

[18:30] rate that is basically can serve

[18:31] as a standby rate that everybody

[18:32] pays.

[18:33] The second tier is based on the

[18:36] value of the structures on the

[18:36] property.

[18:38] So vacant property doesn't get a

[18:40] two-tier, second tier valuation

[18:40] because there is no structures

[18:42] to protect.

[18:43] But those that do have

[18:46] structures is based on per 5,000

[18:51] of value so those so that's how

[18:52] the second tier of the rate

[18:54] itself is determined.

[18:56] So if there is a change in the

[18:58] structure value, that triggers

[19:01] another threshold then the next

[19:03] tier of payment would apply.

[19:05] So that's why I said that it's

[19:06] based -- it could be based on a

[19:09] change in the value if there was

[19:11] a change in the value of the

[19:12] structures on the land.

[19:14] >> chair: okay, thank you,

[19:15] MS. Lieberman.

[19:16] Okay, tommy I think we will get

[19:17] started on this.

[19:19] We will take a break at 5:30 for

[19:19] public comment.

[19:20] >> we ask

[19:21] we should be done.

[19:22] >> chair: all right, let me

[19:22] start.

[19:23] I start?

[19:23] Okay.

[19:24] i can read it.

[19:26] The alachua county board of

[19:27] county commissioners convenes

[19:28] this public hearing on the

[19:29] alachua county fiscal year 2027

[19:31] proposed millage rates and

[19:34] florida statutes chapter 129 and

[19:35] 200 and as advertised in the

[19:36] truth in millage notices.

[19:37] If anyone in our audience is

[19:39] here for the purpose of

[19:41] contesting their assessment, a

[19:44] petition for adjustment with the

[19:46] value adjustment boardtial be --

[19:49] should be filed 5:00 P.M. Monday

[19:49] SEPTEMBER 2026.

[19:53] This was included in trim

[19:53] notices.

[19:54] This evening we will take a

[19:57] number of actions related to the

[19:58] adoption of the proposed millage

[19:59] rates and budgets.

[20:01] The final public hearing on

[20:03] these matters will be held

[20:05] tuesday, SEPTEMBER 22nd, at

[20:06] 5:01 in this same location the

[20:07] alachua county administration

[20:09] building jack durance

[20:09] auditorium.

[20:10] I urge if you haven't already

[20:12] done so to get a copy of the

[20:13] agenda so you MAY easily follow

[20:15] the proceedings this evening.

[20:16] Is citizen comments will be

[20:17] taken after the overview of the

[20:18] tentative budget by the county

[20:19] manager and the assistant county

[20:21] manager for budget and fiscal

[20:22] services.

[20:24] The county will present the

[20:26] truth in millage followed by the

[20:27] explanation of the proposed and

[20:28] rolled back millage rates.

[20:31] MADAM Attorney.

[20:34] >> so in 1980 the florida

[20:34] legislature adopted what is

[20:36] known as the truth in millage

[20:38] legislation or trim as it's

[20:39] called.

[20:40] The goal of the legislation was

[20:42] to ensure that taxpayers were

[20:44] advised of the public hearings

[20:45] at which the local taxing

[20:46] authorities budgets and millage

[20:49] rates were to be considered and

[20:49] adopted.

[20:51] Each year the property appraiser

[20:52] completes an assessment of the

[20:54] value of all property and

[20:55] certifies to each taxing

[20:57] authority the taxable value of

[20:59] the property within its

[21:00] jurisdiction.

[21:00] Each taxing authority then

[21:02] notifies the property appraiser

[21:04] of its proposed millage rate,

[21:06] its rolled-back rate, and the

[21:07] date, time, and place of the

[21:09] public hearing to consider the

[21:11] proposed millage rate and the

[21:12] tentative budget.

[21:13] Once the property appraiser

[21:15] receives the information, their

[21:17] office sends a notice by first

[21:19] class mail to every taxpayer on

[21:21] the assessment roll.

[21:22] The notice contains the

[21:24] information from the taxing

[21:25] authorities as to the proposed

[21:27] millage rate and the time and

[21:29] place of the public hearing.

[21:30] The notice sent to taxpayers is

[21:31] called the trim notice.

[21:33] The trim notice lists what the

[21:35] taxes were for the prior year,

[21:37] what the taxes will be if the

[21:38] proposed budget changes are

[21:41] made, and what the taxes will be

[21:43] if no budget changes are made.

[21:44] This information is listed for

[21:45] each taxing authority.

[21:48] The notice also lists all voted

[21:49] levies for debt service.

[21:51] The purpose of the trim notice

[21:53] is to provide taxpayers with

[21:55] sufficient basic information to

[21:56] enable them to participate in

[21:58] the public hearing process.

[22:01] >> chair: thank you,

[22:02] MS. Lieberman.

[22:03] >> one of the requirements of

[22:04] the truth in millage legislation

[22:07] is to provide information about

[22:08] why proposed millage rates

[22:10] differ from the rolled back

[22:11] millage velocity.

[22:12] Rates.

[22:13] The proposed millage for the

[22:13] board of county commissioners

[22:17] countywide levy is 7.2107 mills,

[22:21] which is 0% greater than the

[22:24] rolled-back rate of 7.2117

[22:24] mills.

[22:25] The proposed millage for the

[22:26] board of county commissioners

[22:27] municipal service taxing unit

[22:31] law enforcement levy is 3.5678

[22:35] mills, which is 5.47% greater

[22:38] than the rolled-back rate of

[22:39] 3.3829 mills.

[22:41] Rolled back millage rate is

[22:43] defined as the millage rate

[22:45] which exclusive of new

[22:46] construction, additions to

[22:47] structure, deletions, and

[22:50] property added due to geographic

[22:51] boundary changes will provide

[22:53] the same ad valorem tax revenue

[22:56] for each taxing authority as was

[22:58] levied during the prior year.%

[23:00] the trim process requires that a

[23:03] notice of tax increase by ad --

[23:03] be adhave

[23:05] advertised when the

[23:06] current year proposed aggregate

[23:10] millage rate exceeds the current

[23:10] aggregate millage rate.

[23:12] The aggregate rolled back

[23:13] millage rate is calculated by

[23:14] dividing the prior year

[23:15] estimated property tax revenue

[23:18] by the current year taxable

[23:20] property value, multiplied by

[23:20] 1,000.

[23:22] The current year taxable value

[23:24] does not include new

[23:26] construction and tax increment

[23:27] cra values.

[23:31] For the 2026 tax year, the

[23:35] proposed aggregate millage rate

[23:38] of 8.6608 is.81% greater than

[23:39] the aggregate rolled back

[23:44] millage rate of 8.5909 resulting

[23:47] in advertising a notice of tax

[23:48] increase.

[23:51] The current year fy '26 property

[23:56] tax revenue for all taxing units

[24:02] excluding voted millage is

[24:03] $229,156,150.

[24:05] The fy '27 tentative budget

[24:19] property tax revenue of

[24:20] $232,577,218 is

[24:22] $3,421,068 greater than fiscal

[24:22] year 26.

[24:24] The increase ipproperty tax

[24:25] revenue -- in property tax

[24:26] revenue is necessary to fund the

[24:27] appropriations to operate the

[24:30] general county and mstu law

[24:32] enforcement taxing units.

[24:33] Tommy crosby assistant county

[24:34] manager for financial and

[24:35] facilities resource management

[24:37] will now present an overview of

[24:39] the tentative budget for fiscal

[24:41] year 2027.

[24:41] >> chair: MR. Crosby.

[24:43] >> MR. Chair, the total county

[24:46] tentative budget for fiscal year

[24:51] 2027 is $974,151,842 which is a

[24:55] net increase of

[24:56] $25,200,300 compared to the

[24:58] county manager's proposed budget

[25:05] of $948,951,942 the details of

[25:07] the changes reflected in the

[25:08] fiscal year 26-27 tentative

[25:10] budget included in your agenda

[25:10] packet.

[25:12] I have a quick presentation

[25:14] similar to last year's to go

[25:14] through.

[25:16] I want to update you on our

[25:17] property tax data and summarize

[25:18] some of the expenditures that

[25:19] the board had requested during

[25:22] our meetings.

[25:23] >> chair: tommy, hold on one

[25:23] second.

[25:24] Is there anyone here for public

[25:25] comment at 5:30?

[25:27] okay, let's go ahead and pause

[25:28] the public hearing.

[25:29] That way we can have public

[25:30] comment not related to the

[25:31] public hearing and then when we

[25:33] get back we'll proceed with your

[25:34] presentation if that's okay.

[25:34] >> sure, sure.

[25:35] >> because I don't want to rush

[25:36] through that.

[25:37] And I think it's important

[25:38] information so we're going to go

[25:40] ahead and open up public comment

[25:42] at 5:30 which is not the public

[25:43] comment for the public hearing.

[25:44] This is public comment not

[25:45] related to the public hearing.

[25:49] MR. Konish, you're recognized.

[25:50] >> MR. Chair, you know, I see

[25:53] these massive utility projects

[25:54] going in the county

[25:56] right-of-ways regional

[26:02] wastewater systems, and I know

[26:06] property along northwest 282nd

[26:13] drive that goes up to the now

[26:17] dead poe springs and the

[26:19] systemic failure to regulate

[26:20] right-of-ways.

[26:21] These people go in there,

[26:24] they're unrelation regulated,

[26:24] nay don't pay anything.

[26:25] Then you will have people who

[26:26] want to go in there but you want

[26:29] to save four trees but you don't

[26:30] have any jurisdiction.

[26:31] I don't understand why we go

[26:33] decade after decade once they

[26:35] get through the county, sir,

[26:38] they're gone.

[26:40] You won't be able to put the

[26:44] the

[26:44] brakes on.

[26:46] Probably be a few miles closer

[26:47] in the future, but you know I

[26:48] just don't, I really don't

[26:50] understand that.

[26:51] The, our sky high gru bills is

[26:54] not a good tax base for you.

[26:57] Because they're already

[26:58] exacerbated by surcharges that

[27:00] you don't care about.

[27:01] And then you're putting your

[27:04] county utility tax on in a

[27:07] pyramid

[27:08] in a pyramid fashion.

[27:09] The bills are a problem, sir.

[27:11] The bills are a big problem,

[27:16] particularly for businesses.

[27:18] Although they are a problem for

[27:18] everybody.

[27:20] I just really wish, like even

[27:27] hutch at one point suggested

[27:29] rolling back the utility tax.

[27:30] Even at one time he suggested it

[27:32] admitting that, okay, we had a

[27:34] bad contract, something along

[27:34] those lines.

[27:36] And maybe we'll roll back the

[27:37] utility tax.

[27:39] But the bills are a problem.

[27:41] And you don't need to be

[27:45] stepping on them the way you do.

[27:50] And going back to northwest

[27:52] 282nd drive, a guy went into

[27:56] an abandoned log cabin he paid

[27:57] too much for.

[27:59] Put in a pole in the

[28:00] right-of-way, underground

[28:03] service, big 200-amp service to

[28:05] his dilapidated building in the

[28:06] right-of-way.

[28:07] Other people are paving their

[28:09] driveways like right into the

[28:13] county right-of-way.

[28:15] Building them up, exacerbating

[28:17] flooding, hurting adjacent

[28:17] property owners.

[28:19] And you don't seem to care.

[28:21] I asked clay electric, how can

[28:23] you put the pole in the county

[28:24] right-of-way?

[28:25] They said we do it all the time.

[28:26] And then, you know, someone

[28:28] wants to bring an underground

[28:29] internet.

[28:30] Well, guess what.

[28:35] There's obstacles all over the

[28:35] place.

[28:39] It's just no way to manage an

[28:39] asset.

[28:41] free use of right-of-way, city

[28:43] and county, is on gru books as

[28:46] an asset worth 800,000.

[28:48] And you sued them for the

[28:50] privilege fee in the '90s.

[28:52] >> chair: thank you, MR. Konish.

[28:53] Anyone else wants to address

[28:54] this board on anything not on

[28:59] the agenda?

[29:01] >> my name is james cergton.

[29:06] I live at 10015 northwest 52nd

[29:09] terrace gainesville, florida.

[29:10] And you can see I dressed up to

[29:12] come here today, so you'd

[29:13] remember me and the real reason

[29:17] that I came here today is not so

[29:21] much the simplicity of a budget,

[29:23] which I thank you for every

[29:23] year.

[29:31] And I thank you for what you

[29:31] have accomplished.

[29:34] This is my county commission.

[29:37] But what I want to speak for is

[29:41] the seniors in our county.

[29:43] I'm an octogenarian.

[29:44] I'm nervous all the time.

[29:47] I shake.

[29:51] I can't articulate like I did

[29:55] when I was a radical at the

[29:56] university of florida as a

[30:00] graduate student in philosophy.

[30:03] But I do want to speak for the

[30:03] seniors.

[30:09] My wife and I attend the senior

[30:11] center by the fire station and

[30:14] highway patrol station on 121

[30:17] and 441, that area.

[30:23] City of alachua is building a

[30:24] hathcock center for seniors.

[30:28] And I would like you to focus on

[30:34] a picture of our community all

[30:36] pulling together in budgets and

[30:37] everything else, you know.

[30:40] And one of the things is that

[30:42] children are on one hand and

[30:46] seniors are on the other.

[30:50] Seniors are your homeless, your

[30:51] unemployed.

[30:53] Every senior who is over 80, wow

[30:55] dare say, is probably close to

[30:58] being unemployed or wished they

[31:02] were unemployed.

[31:05] And, you know, children get bus

[31:06] transportation.

[31:09] Do seniors get bus

[31:09] transportation?

[31:10] I don't have long and we're not

[31:13] going to solve the proble here.

[31:14] But what you are going to solve

[31:17] the problem is we don't want our

[31:23] seniors treated less than our

[31:23] prisoners.

[31:26] Be careful with your budget.

[31:28] And I speak first to the

[31:30] sheriff's office, you know.

[31:32] The prison is the biggest

[31:36] expense you've probably got.

[31:39] I speak to the other

[31:43] constitutional agencies.

[31:44] What are your constitutional

[31:46] agencies and your own agency

[31:48] being paid?

[31:51] Seniors get 2.7% and I

[31:53] understand this year we MAY go

[31:57] up to 3% budget increase in our

[31:58] social security.

[32:00] Remember that, keep in mind,

[32:02] look at the big picture.

[32:04] Let's balance this big picture.

[32:06] Children, seniors.

[32:07] Thank you so much.

[32:09] >> chair: thank you,

[32:10] MR. Kerrington, thank you.

[32:11] Anyone else?

[32:13] We're going to close the 5:30

[32:14] public comment and reopen back

[32:15] the public hearing and we're

[32:16] back up to MR.

[32:18] Crosby's review

[32:20] of the fiscal year '27 budget

[32:21] highlights.

[32:21] MR.

[32:22] Crosby, you're recognized.

[32:26] >> thank you, MR. Chair.

[32:28] So you have a presentation that

[32:30] was included in the packet as

[32:30] well.

[32:31] Just kind of updating the data

[32:33] we normally go through and we

[32:34] have added a couple of

[32:37] expenditure slides at the end.

[32:38] The 2025 county millage rate

[32:40] which was for the current fiscal

[32:44] year we're in ranked in 67

[32:45] counties is the last -- some of

[32:47] this data is old data just

[32:48] because that's where it comes

[32:50] out of dor.

[32:52] They haven't updated for current

[32:52] year.

[32:55] Last year's -- the year we're in

[32:58] fiscal year '26 data, we ranked

[33:01] 52nd in aggregate millage at

[33:06] 9.0492 mills.

[33:09] And 41st at 7.6 mills.

[33:13] So the value of this information

[33:15] is we are annually accused of

[33:17] and said that we are at the top

[33:20] of the list and the most taxed

[33:22] millage in the state and we are

[33:23] not.

[33:24] We're 41st and we'll talk a

[33:27] little bit more about how it

[33:28] could be less and why it's not

[33:29] less.

[33:30] This board has done a very good

[33:32] job over the years of reducing

[33:32] millage.

[33:36] The per capita rate which is the

[33:38] tax per citizen on the county

[33:40] government levies, alachua

[33:43] county is at $761.

[33:44] State average is $991.

[33:46] So we're the 32nd lowest

[33:48] property tax per capita.

[33:52] I think that's an important

[33:53] distinction as well.

[33:54] >> chair: there's the big one.

[33:56] >> that's the big one that we

[33:57] tout but I believe it's better

[33:59] to see it in writing and be able

[34:02] to publish it so people can

[34:04] understand 10 straight years we

[34:06] have reduced general fund

[34:12] millage by 1.7183 mills.

[34:14] It's almost a 20% reduction in

[34:15] 10 years.

[34:17] >> chair: tommy, if you could

[34:19] add leon county to the slide

[34:19] next year.

[34:21] i was talking to some folks from

[34:22] tallahassee over the weekend and

[34:24] that's our peer county.

[34:25] >> sure.

[34:28] >> chair: because 10 years ago

[34:30] we were way above them and we

[34:33] are now below them.

[34:35] >> property tax data, the 2026

[34:39] tax roll for '27, again this is

[34:41] talking about what's not on the

[34:43] assessed roll and why we have to

[34:45] be at the level we are currently

[34:45] at.

[34:48] Alachua county taxable value, we

[34:50] have 68% of our value is on the

[34:51] roll.

[34:54] That means there's 32% roughly

[34:56] that are off the roll, mainly

[34:58] because the university of

[35:00] florida, state properties, etc.,

[35:02] federal properties.

[35:07] The state level, the average is

[35:07] 83.88%.

[35:09] We're the 8th lowest

[35:11] percentage in the state of

[35:12] assessed value.

[35:14] And that is the other seven are

[35:16] all very small counties.

[35:18] So the lafayettes of the world

[35:19] where it's all national forest

[35:22] and those up in the panhandle,

[35:23] taylor county, etc.

[35:30] Our alachua county taxable value

[35:32] is 56.3% of just value.

[35:34] The impact of assessed value

[35:36] verse taxable value in alachua

[35:39] county, our assessed value is

[35:41] $39.2 billion, taxable is

[35:41] $26.8 billion.

[35:43] So when you see it in raw

[35:46] numbers, that's $13 billion of

[35:47] value off of the books.

[35:50] State average again is 84%.

[35:52] If we were at the state average

[35:54] that would generate another

[35:55] $6.3 billion worth of value

[35:57] which could reduce our millage

[36:00] down to 5.85 mills and generate

[36:02] the same property tax rate.

[36:03] >> chair: wow.

[36:06] >> we have talked briefly

[36:09] knowing it's never going to

[36:10] happen.

[36:10] Payment newnans

[36:16] in lieu of taxes, the

[36:17] ocala national forest gets it.

[36:19] The state doesn't pay taxes but

[36:21] if we could do something to help

[36:22] counties with large state

[36:24] holdings in their county.

[36:25] Because we do supply services to

[36:29] a lot of those properties.

[36:29] >> right.

[36:31] >> tax and assessment sources.

[36:34] These are our major tax funds.

[36:36] Again, the board has seen these

[36:36] many times.

[36:38] It's more for public

[36:39] information.

[36:40] Our general fund which includes

[36:48] property taxes, utility PSTs,

[36:50] CSTs, sales tax, state shared

[36:52] funds and fees the largest is

[36:57] ambulance fees, the mst for law

[36:59] enforcement is of property

[37:01] faxes, msbu is fire assessments.

[37:05] We do contribute 30% -- 40%,

[37:05] thank you.

[37:08] 40% of our sales tax, utility

[37:09] tax and communications service

[37:11] tax split to fire.

[37:13] Msbu for stormwater and solid

[37:14] waste are all assessments and

[37:19] tipping fees for the solid waste

[37:19] facility.

[37:21] Road maintenance is gas tax and

[37:23] then we supply communication,

[37:25] 20% communication service tax to

[37:26] them now.

[37:27] We started doing that three

[37:30] years ago to help operational

[37:30] costs.

[37:33] Conservation lands, parks master

[37:34] plan, pavement management master

[37:35] roads and housing infrastructure

[37:40] are part of the 1 cent surtax.

[37:42] Equestrian center and the sports

[37:45] event center and grants is from

[37:46] the tourist development tax.

[37:48] >> MAY I say something?

[37:49] >> chair: yes.

[37:50] Commissioner alford, sorry.

[37:52] >> tommy, do you mind making the

[37:54] point that while we do have all

[37:57] those taxes for all of those

[37:59] things, all of those taxes do

[38:00] not provide all of the funding

[38:02] for those things.

[38:04] So, for instance, while we have

[38:05] the gas tax and road

[38:07] maintenance, it is nowhere near

[38:10] the amount we need to do that

[38:10] maintenance.

[38:12] That's the question I get asked

[38:13] over and over and over again.

[38:15] So I just wanted to make it

[38:16] clear that while we do have

[38:18] these sources of funding, those

[38:20] sources of funding are not

[38:21] adequate to provide all the

[38:22] funding necessary.

[38:22] >> yes, ma'am.

[38:23] Happy to.

[38:25] So a couple of those that are

[38:28] critical in nature, ambulance

[38:30] services we subsidize about 30%

[38:32] to 35% of those fees.

[38:34] The rest come from fees.

[38:35] Outside of that comes from tax

[38:36] dollars.

[38:38] The other one you just

[38:42] mentioned, gas tax that's why we

[38:45] subsidized 25% to maintain it

[38:46] because gas tax collections

[38:48] unlike the state who has indexed

[38:50] theirs, ours has been at the

[38:51] same rate since it was imposed.

[38:53] So it's not enough as inflaton

[38:55] has gone up to keep up with

[38:56] those costs.

[38:58] And those would be the two major

[39:01] ones that do that.

[39:03] >> chair: to MR. Konish's point,

[39:06] if we eliminate that cst tax, it

[39:08] would eliminate road money.

[39:09] Thank you for bringing that up,

[39:09] commissioner.

[39:10] Is he still here?

[39:12] >> I'm not sure why this second

[39:14] block did something very

[39:15] different.

[39:15] >> oh.

[39:16] >> chair: whoa.

[39:17] >> it didn't like your font.

[39:23] >> I would say so.

[39:26] It says it on the paper.

[39:27] >> chair: 191 million.

[39:27] >> anyway, okay.

[39:30] One of the things the board --

[39:31] that is so weird.

[39:33] >> chair: tommy, put this on the

[39:33] overhead.

[39:35] Yeah, just stick it -- can we

[39:37] have overhead, please.

[39:38] [Laughter]

[39:39] >> thank you.

[39:41] >> we've been hacked.

[39:42] >> converting it to a

[39:44] presentation, to a powerpoint,

[39:46] strange things happen in the

[39:47] machine.

[39:47] Okay.

[39:49] So one of the things the board

[39:50] had asked a while back -- and we

[39:52] have doe some of this and I

[39:56] think this is a better

[39:58] definitive way to do it.

[40:02] You have a $974 million budget

[40:04] and you ask why can't you put

[40:06] more to roads if you have this

[40:07] much money in your budget.

[40:09] And collectively, you have tried

[40:10] to express that all that is not

[40:12] available for us to put to

[40:12] roads.

[40:13] And we are limited in what we

[40:16] can move forward.

[40:17] Also, the fact that a budget is

[40:19] not a fire assessment, it is a

[40:21] plan of action and a lot of

[40:23] that budget moves money between

[40:24] funds so that we can account for

[40:25] it.

[40:28] It has nothing to do with

[40:29] expenditures or cash outlay if

[40:30] you will.

[40:33] What we have taken is your

[40:34] $974 million budget and we have

[40:36] it into five different boxes.

[40:38] We'll talk about these boxes.

[40:41] the first one is internal

[40:43] budgetary transactions

[40:44] $191 million goes through the

[40:46] budget for things like

[40:47] transfers, reserves, things that

[40:48] are never spent.

[40:49] They are just between funds.

[40:51] Some of them look like they are

[40:53] duplicate but it's a matter of

[40:56] using one fund to another.

[40:59] Outside agency funds,

[41:01] $251 million, we'll talk about

[41:02] those as through constitutional

[41:03] officers.

[41:05] >> chair: tommy, hold on.

[41:05] >> yes.

[41:06] >> chair: anna brought up a good

[41:07] point.

[41:12] If you take the 974 minus the

[41:17] 991, you are immediately at 780.

[41:20] >> 780 round numbers.

[41:21] >> chair: 785.

[41:22] >> that's where we're going,

[41:23] yes, sir.

[41:25] We'll go through the boxes,

[41:27] internal budgetary transactions

[41:28] 19.6% of the budget.

[41:30] $45 million in budget transfers.

[41:33] You have $67 million in internal

[41:34] service funds.

[41:36] That's things like our phone

[41:38] system that we charge out to

[41:39] different departments.

[41:40] The biggest one is health

[41:42] insurance fund, our

[41:42] self-insurance fund.

[41:45] Then you have reserves of

[41:46] $79 million to set aside

[41:48] hopefully not spent.

[41:51] So then you're down to

[41:52] $780 million.

[41:57] Then we have $250 million to go

[41:58] to outside agencies.

[42:00] If you pull that off your

[42:02] number, the outside agencies is

[42:03] 25% of your budget.

[42:06] The sheriff receives

[42:06] $152 million.

[42:09] That's for the jail.

[42:11] The law enforcement agency, the

[42:14] ccc and the court bailiffs, so

[42:16] it's $152 million.

[42:17] The hospital assessment which we

[42:19] are just a pass-through agency

[42:20] of $65 million.

[42:22] We don't even touch that.

[42:23] That's to help the hospitals at

[42:27] their reques.

[42:28] Other constitutional officers,

[42:32] this is the other four

[42:33] constitutionals.

[42:34] Careersource $5 million.

[42:40] And the mtpo $1 million.

[42:41] 250 million to outside agencies

[42:42] at their request or

[42:51] appropriation or etc. Or their

[42:52] assessment.

[43:02] Next box are inmates.

[43:04] In -- mandates.

[43:05] $34 million in mandates.

[43:07] This is our debt service funds

[43:08] for prior obligations.

[43:13] The medicaid state match,

[43:14] $5 million.

[43:15] Debt service of 14 million.

[43:17] Medicaid of $5 million.

[43:19] Juvenile justice $4 million.

[43:21] Inmate medical $3 million.

[43:24] Medical examiner $2 million.

[43:25] State court administration,

[43:26] $4 million.

[43:27] This includes state attorney,

[43:30] public defender and the judicial

[43:31] branch.

[43:32] And the health department

[43:34] $2 million.

[43:34] That $34 million comes off the

[43:36] top as required.

[43:37] So the next two blocks are

[43:40] really what the board has to

[43:40] spend.

[43:41] And some of them are again

[43:44] outside of your ability

[43:44] flexibility.

[43:47] So we have left right at

[43:48] $500 million so half of your

[43:50] budget has been spent before it

[43:54] is in your hands really to look

[43:56] at.

[43:58] 37.5% or 366 million of that are

[43:59] restricted funds.

[44:00] This goes back to commissioner

[44:02] alford's point she just made a

[44:02] few minutes ago.

[44:06] We have our infrastructure

[44:07] suforts $133 million of that.

[44:08] That has to go for

[44:09] infrastructure and things

[44:11] outlined in the ballot

[44:11] initiative.

[44:12] We have targeted taxes.

[44:15] These are your gas tax, your

[44:17] cst, your pst, those things that

[44:21] have to be used for specific

[44:21] purposes.

[44:25] You have your public safety

[44:25] acfr.

[44:29] This is your fire assessment of

[44:31] $77 million and your fees and

[44:32] your ambulance fees.

[44:34] So there is a caveat, some of

[44:36] this is subsidized by taxes.

[44:37] But those obligations are also

[44:39] made through your collective

[44:40] bargaining agreement.

[44:41] Things like kelly days and

[44:43] staffing plans and how many

[44:45] units you have open.

[44:47] Your grants of 22 million, and

[44:49] then your solid waste fund

[44:49] $30 million.

[44:51] So those are restricted sources

[44:52] that have to be directed to a

[44:53] certain area.

[44:55] And those are built in, baked

[44:57] into the budget if you will.

[44:58] Some of those you do have to

[44:58] approve.

[45:00] Some of those you get

[45:01] automatically from the state.

[45:03] Some of those have been approved

[45:06] a long time ago.

[45:11] That leaves $133 million or 13

[45:12] to 14% of your budget is really

[45:13] now what you are looking at when

[45:15] we do our annual budget

[45:15] presentation.

[45:17] That's what you are left with.

[45:19] This was a big point for the

[45:21] commission during our meetings

[45:21] this year.

[45:24] It's helping people understand

[45:26] when they are frustrated of,

[45:27] okay, this is where all those

[45:29] dollars are going, this is how

[45:32] much we are limited to, it is

[45:33] how much flexibility we have and

[45:33] what we're doing.

[45:35] In addition to reducing your

[45:36] millage to reduce your tax

[45:39] burden, we really are allocating

[45:40] $133 million.

[45:42] 37 million of that is your

[45:43] maintenance of physical plant.

[45:45] That's your utility bills.

[45:46] That's your renovation plans.

[45:48] That's your rehab, keeping your

[45:50] roofs, our air conditions fixed.

[45:52] That's travis' team.

[45:54] That's the utility bills, etc.

[45:57] And your property insurance.

[45:58] Roads, 24 million.

[45:59] This is over and above what's

[46:01] restricted by the infrastructure

[46:02] surtax.

[46:02] This is your general fund

[46:03] commitment to roads.

[46:05] So this is over and above it.

[46:06] We'll talk about the combined

[46:07] roads budget in a minute.

[46:09] That's an additional 24 million

[46:10] you have allocated to roads.

[46:15] County operations, $21 million.

[46:16] This would be everything that

[46:18] runs the county, H.R., my

[46:19] office, manager's office, county

[46:21] attorney's office, your office,

[46:21] etc.

[46:23] These are all of your county,

[46:26] typical county operations.

[46:28] Housing and community support

[46:30] services is at 16 million.

[46:32] Those are departmentally program

[46:33] based dollars.

[46:35] Parks, environmental and land

[46:37] conservation, outside again of

[46:39] their infrastructure surtax

[46:40] $13 million.

[46:42] Court services, that's our

[46:45] operation of court services, our

[46:45] employees, $11 million.

[46:49] Planning and economic

[46:50] development.

[46:53] And then animal resources of

[46:53] 5 million.

[46:55] So I think it's important for

[46:57] the public to see that

[46:58] $133 million is kind of the

[46:58] allocation method.

[47:00] And again 37 of that is physical

[47:02] plant, so you're limited to what

[47:03] you can control there.

[47:04] So you're under $100 million

[47:05] that you're actually allocating

[47:07] out to programs and have a lot

[47:08] of flexibility over.

[47:09] So again, we wanted to combine

[47:12] the bottom to show the county's

[47:13] priorities, the board's

[47:13] priorities.

[47:16] That is public safety at

[47:18] $252 million allocated to public

[47:19] safety across the budget and

[47:20] roads at $106 million.

[47:22] This is just in the '27 budget.

[47:24] So I think that's important for

[47:25] y'all to understand.

[47:26] >> chair: this is really great,

[47:26] tommy.

[47:28] Really helps with the

[47:29] transparency of what our budget

[47:30] reflects.

[47:32] What really stuck out to me is

[47:33] $358 million is public safety

[47:36] and roads of the 500 billion

[47:37] restricted and remaining for

[47:38] county operations.

[47:39] >> yes, sir.

[47:40] >> chair: questions,

[47:40] commissioners?

[47:41] >> MR. Chair, that concludes my

[47:41] comments.

[47:43] I'll be happy to answer any

[47:43] questions.

[47:45] >> chair: any questions,

[47:46] commissioners?

[47:47] >> wonderful.

[47:47] >> chair: okay.

[47:48] Tommy, thank you.

[47:50] I would now like to go ahead and

[47:51] invite citizens to comment on

[47:53] the fiscal year 2027 proposed

[47:55] millage rates and the tentative

[47:55] budget.

[47:56] Please come forward to the

[47:57] podium if you wish to address

[47:58] the board.

[48:01] We do request each speaker limit

[48:01] comments to three minutes.

[48:03] The hearing will continue until

[48:04] everyone who wishes to address

[48:05] this commission has had an

[48:07] opportunity to speak.

[48:08] Okay.

[48:09] Citizen comments on the budget

[48:11] and the tentative millage.

[48:15] Going once, going twice.

[48:17] >> you skipped the manager.

[48:23] >> chair: he just did that.

[48:27] We'll go ahead and close public

[48:28] comment of the public hearing.

[48:28] All right.

[48:28] MR.

[48:30] Crosby.

[48:31] >> MR. Chair, the budget

[48:35] documents before you, the fiscal

[48:36] year 2027 tentative budget

[48:38] includes the changes that were

[48:39] described earlier.

[48:40] Any additional adjustments to

[48:42] the budget can be made by motion

[48:43] at this time.

[48:44] >> chair: all right.

[48:46] Any adjustments by the board?

[48:47] Okay.

[48:49] Seeing none, MS. Lieberman.

[48:50] >> I'm just kidding.

[48:56] I just like to give a scare.

[48:56] [Laughter]

[48:58] >> chair: not nice for a

[49:01] commissioner in her 8th year.

[49:02] Okay.

[49:04] MS. Lieberman you are

[49:04] recognized.

[49:05] >> florida statutes require the

[49:07] name of the taxing authority,

[49:09] the millage rate to be levied,

[49:10] the rolled-back rate and

[49:11] percentage change over

[49:13] rolled-back rate be publicly

[49:13] announced.

[49:15] Accordingly, the alachua county

[49:16] board of county commissioners

[49:17] has determined that a proposed

[49:20] millage rate of 7.2107 mills is

[49:22] necessary to fund the tentative

[49:23] general county budget.

[49:25] The proposed millage rate

[49:27] represents a 0% increase over

[49:31] the rolled-back rate of 7.2107

[49:31] mills.

[49:32] >> chair: okay.

[49:33] Mary, you want to get us

[49:34] started?

[49:34] >> yeah.

[49:38] I move adoption of resolution

[49:41] 2026-59 establishing the fiscal

[49:43] year 2027 proposed general

[49:44] county millage rates.

[49:45] >> second.

[49:45] >> chair: motion and second.

[49:47] Any discussion?

[49:49] All those in favor, say aye.

[49:50] [Ayes]

[49:51] Any opposed?

[49:57] That motion is unanimous anna.

[50:01] >> I move that we adopt the 2027

[50:04] tentative general county budget.

[50:04] >> second.

[50:06] >> chair: motion and couple of

[50:06] seconds.

[50:07] All those in favor, say aye.

[50:09] [Ayes]

[50:10] Any opposed?

[50:12] That passes unanimously

[50:13] MS. Lieberman.

[50:14] >> the rolled-back rate and the

[50:15] percentage change over

[50:16] rolled-back rate be publicly

[50:17] announced.

[50:18] Accordingly, the alachua county

[50:19] board of county commissioners

[50:21] has determined that a proposed

[50:25] millage rate of 3.5678 mills for

[50:27] the municipal service taxing

[50:28] unit law enforcement is required

[50:30] to fund the tentative municipal

[50:31] service taxing unit law

[50:32] enforcement budget.

[50:33] The tentative millage rate

[50:36] represents an increase of 5.47%

[50:41] over the rolled-back rate of

[50:42] 3.3829 mills.

[50:46] >> move the adoption of the

[50:49] resolution 2026-61 establishing

[50:52] fy27 proposed municipal service

[50:54] taxing unit, law enforcement

[50:55] millage rate.

[50:56] >> econd.

[50:57] >> chair: motion and a second.

[50:57] All those in favor, say aye.

[50:58] [Ayes]

[51:00] Any opposed?

[51:02] That motion is unanimous.

[51:04] Commissioner wheeler.

[51:05] >> okay.

[51:07] Move adoption of resolution

[51:10] 2026-62, adopting changed

[51:12] revenue estimates in the fiscal

[51:14] year 2027 tentative municipal

[51:16] service taxing unit law

[51:18] enforcement budget.

[51:18] >> second.

[51:19] >> chair: motion and a second.

[51:20] All those in favor, say aye.

[51:20] [Ayes]

[51:21] Any opposed?

[51:23] That motion is unanimous.

[51:24] Okay.

[51:25] This concludes the tentative

[51:26] budget hearing.

[51:27] Reminder the second and final

[51:29] public hearing will be held

[51:31] tuesday SEPTEMBER 22nd right

[51:36] here 5:01 in the alachua county

[51:37] building.

[51:38] 12 southeast first street on the

[51:41] second floor.

[51:43] And I believe that concludes our

[51:44] business for the night.

[51:45] Tommy, great job.

[51:45] Thank you.

[51:47] We'll see you again in a couple

[51:47] of weeks.

Regular Meeting @ 5:00 p.m.

Agenda

Transcript