[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.