Gainesville City Commission to review Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal on Thursday evening
Press release from the City of Gainesville
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gainesville City Commission will take the next step in developing the City’s fiscal year 2027 budget on Thursday, July 16, when proposals developed by the City Manager’s Office and the Office of Management and Budget are presented for review. The agenda item is scheduled for the evening session, giving the public greater opportunity to observe and comment on the proceedings as Commissioners debate the budget and establish the maximum millage rate for the coming fiscal year.
The budget presentation comes after several months of budget workshops, analysis, and departmental review to address an anticipated General Fund gap that, as of June 2, was as high as $12.1 million. That predicted shortfall has since decreased to an estimated $8.6 million, with the budget proposal recommended by Interim City Manager Andrew Persons relying on a combination of financial levers to achieve balance.
“Our intention with this particular budget proposal, which is one of seven separate scenarios given to Commissioners to consider, is to keep providing a high level of service at reduced cost,” said Interim City Manager Persons. “It closes the gap without eliminating any filled positions from the General Fund and steadies us for continued fiscal stability in the year ahead.”
At the July 16 meeting, City Commissioners will review the scenarios provided by the Office of Management and Budget, all with varying configurations of spending cuts and revenue options. The proposal recommended by Interim City Manager Persons does not include an increase to the city’s 6.7297 property tax millage rate but does suggest a higher fire assessment, a series of departmental reductions totaling $1.4 million, and utilizing $1.2 million of excess fund balance within the Fleet Fund.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the City Commission will set the maximum property tax millage rate, a ceiling that can be lowered before adoption of the final budget, but not increased. It’s worth noting that property taxes are the City’s biggest source of money for local services, making up almost half of the General Fund. Since separating from Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU), the City Commission has voted to raise the millage rate twice—by 0.9297 mills in fiscal year 2024 and 0.3000 mills in fiscal year 2026. These increases were intended to offset the loss of revenue resulting from the separation of GRU and the corresponding reduction in the Government Services Contribution (GSC), the utility funding that historically helped pay for City services.
“This proposal reflects the difficult work of adapting to a new financial reality while continuing to invest in the services our community depends on every day,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey L. Ward. “Every budget involves choices, and this recommendation gives us a thoughtful starting point that preserves our focus on public safety, infrastructure improvements, and quality of life without increasing the millage rate. I’m so appreciative that our team was able to bridge what was a substantial gap and bring us a balanced budget so efficiently.”
Although Interim City Manager Persons is not recommending any changes to the current property tax millage rate, the City would receive additional revenue due to growth in taxable property values. The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s July 1 certified taxable values report shows a 6.24% increase in Gainesville’s taxable property values, rising from approximately $77.5 million to $81.6 million. This increase is expected to generate about $4.1 million in additional revenue utilizing the current property tax millage rate. Under Florida’s Truth-in-Millage (TRIM) requirements, maintaining the current millage rate would be classified as a tax increase because it generates more revenue than the rolled-back rate. To keep the existing rate of 6.7297 mills, the City Commission must approve it with a two‑thirds vote.
Following the July 16 meeting, the next budget discussion is a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 10, at which the City Commission will set the tentative millage rate, final assessment rates, and approve the first reading of the Fiscal Year 2027 Financial and Operating Plan. The second and final public hearing on Sept. 17 will include setting the final millage rate and the second and final reading of the Fiscal Year 2027 Financial and Operating Plan.
How about adding after the date of a meeting the time. I could not find the time. I do not understand leaving out the time of any meeting or event.
Every Monday morning, we publish a list of all City of Gainesville meetings; you can find it by going to the “Public notices” or “Local government” categories on our site. That post also links to the City calendar of meetings.
The evening session begins at 5:30 p.m.
https://www.gainesvillefl.gov/Government-Pages/Government/Public-Meeting-Participation/New-Agendas-Minutes
This link gives access to agenda and backup documents, I find it more useful than the announcement link.
How about adding the time after the date at the start of any article. What time is “evening?” Is it 6, 7 or 8?
Holy smokes folks, the time was easy enough to find if it was inadvertently omitted.
Why is Persons not making mention of the decrement list that he created? Pull it up under the meeting like I did see for yourself. He and Singleton are cutting the small numbers. Curry cut all travel and removed some of her own big figured staff. This guy is making small insignificant cuts and the decrement list isn’t even by seniority. Not a smart move when you’re not even permanent yet. Here’s an idea put yourself on decrement list. Why aren’t the newer staff on the list why are some senior staff members on there? Why is the meeting being held at 5:30 instead on the morning agenda when people can comment on it? Some serious concerns going on in City Hall. How about we address those first? Get rid of this guy and his assistant Singleton! Do the City a favor.
Why aren’t you discussing the decrement list and how it’s not going by seniority but rather the hand pickings of Persons and Singleton? Why are they not cutting 100% of travel and unnecessary items before they are cutting senior staff and new employees get to stay? Why aren’t any Directors or Managers on list? In fact why aren’t Persons and Singleton on the list? Oh cause they created it! Hopefully the City Commission remembers that they are interim at will employees and uses the same discretion Persons did when he created the list!
I do not take Jennifer’s efforts for granted and read everything she publishes with gratitude.
Can we please talk about the decrement list created by the City Manager’s Office. Why aren’t Persons and Singleton going by seniority? Why are they hand picking a list? Both Persons and Singleton are interim employees themselves. Probably not the best time to layoff people who have been there rather than starting with newer employees or employees in the six figure range.