Cents & Sensibility, Chapter 7
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – With all the discussion happening across Florida about local government budgets, Alachua County is joining the conversation through this series: Cents & Sensibility: Alachua County’s Budget in Eight Chapters.
Chapter 7: The Total Budget – Much More Than Property Taxes
At its meeting on Sept. 23, 2025, the Alachua County Commission approved the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget, continuing its record of fiscal responsibility while investing in essential services and community priorities. Commissioners adopted a $947 million balanced budget covering public safety, essential services, capital infrastructure, and much more.
The total budget amount can understandably raise questions, such as: “If the County has so much money, why are there still unmet needs?” And “Why can’t more money go to road repairs, deputies, or social services?”
In reality, the total budget does not equal a large pot of flexible money the County can spend any way it wants. This chapter will explain where the money comes from, what it can be used for, and why most of it is restricted by law, policy, or voter decision.
Catch up on previous chapters:
Ch. 6: Reserves – Planning for Rainy Days
Ch. 5: Why Budgets Grow Over Time
Ch. 3: Understanding Property Taxes
Ch. 2: What is the General Fund?
Ch. 1: Public Influence & the Budget
It’s very helpful to know that property taxes make up only 20% of the County budget. So when we pass a constitutional amendment to create a homestead exemption limiting property taxes it should only have a very small impact on the County budget. 80%+ of your spending will not be impacted! Maybe you’ll need to reduce the administration and operations budget, I guess things like the DEI office and other woke and duplicative services like environemtnal protection will fall by the wayside. Seems like a pretty good trade off to me.
How many cents are expended annually for consultants? What percentage of available funds are spent on social programs vs. core services? Does our local county commission have any role in world affairs, free housing and/or food?