Understanding Alachua County’s charges on your TRIM notice
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – TRIM notices include taxes and assessments from several different taxing authorities. Alachua County government is not responsible for the entire tax bill.
The actual 2026 TRIM notice shown below is for a homesteaded property in unincorporated Alachua County.
The County General line at the top is the only countywide property tax charged by Alachua County government. Every taxable property owner in the county pays this tax.
The County’s 2025 millage rate was 7.6000 mills. For 2026, the County Commission has proposed the rollback rate of 7.2107 mills. This marks the 10th consecutive year the County Commission has lowered the county-wide millage rate.
For this property, even though the taxable value increased by nearly $7,000, the County General property tax decreased from $1,754.79 to $1,714.76 — a reduction of $40.03.
Some property owners also pay additional County taxes and assessments based on where they live and the services they receive.
This property is in the Law Enforcement Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) area. The proposed millage rate remains 3.5678 mills. Because the property’s taxable value increased, the tax rises from $823.78 to $848.45 — an increase of $24.67.
The property’s County fire, solid waste, and stormwater assessments increase from $916.84 to $938.68 — an increase of $21.84 due to the Taxable Value increase.
Put it all together:
County General: –$40.03
Law Enforcement MSTU: +$24.67
County assessments: +$21.84
Net increase attributable to Alachua County government: $6.48.
By comparison, the entire TRIM notice increases by $84.93, from $5,461.25 to $5,546.18. The remaining $78.45 in increases comes from other taxing authorities and districts listed on the notice, not from the Alachua County government.
That comparison is important because it addresses a common misconception: “My tax bill went up $85, therefore the County raised my taxes $85.” On this actual notice, the County-related increase is $6.48.
TRIM notices for properties inside municipalities will also include taxes and assessments imposed by those municipalities. In the City of Gainesville, the TRIM notice also includes certain charges that previously appeared on monthly GRU bills. Those municipal taxes, assessments, and fees are not set or controlled by the Alachua County government.
Looks like they’re already in the ‘pass-the-buck’ & ‘blame-someone-else’ mode.
The bottom line—as many will see on their TRIM notices—is that owning a house in Alachua County costs more this year than last year.
Hopefully Amendment 3 will deliver real relief from these relentless property tax hikes.
They’re in panic mode because everyone is talking about the increases, mainly for people living in the city of Gainesville, and it’s a very effective campaign for Amendment 3.
The entire tax bill in this example represents is a 1.5% increase. Much less than the rate of inflation. This release was not about blame or passing the buck. It was about presenting a clear understanding of how the County’s portion of the TRIM Notice works.
It is worth the investment of a few minutes.
The Alachua County Board of Commissioners does not want to be blamed for the sad state of affairs created by the City of Gainesville Commissioners. For those in the City of Gainesville, your TRIM notice is where the real action is. Sure, they use to bill you for the Stormwater, Fire, and Waste on your GRU bill. GRU said no more shenanigans. To add insult to injury, the Gainesville City Commission raised the Fire assessment more than 50% and the waste 8% over last year! Thank Harvey when you see him.
Tired Tax…, they did thank Mayor Harvey. He was reelected by 80%, helped by by the 27% of eligible voters who bothered to vote AS WELL AS the 73% rest who didn’t bother to vote.
Fire never appeared on my GRU bill.
The GRU authority is hammering us with their political machinations, we need serious leadership and a full board without expired term holders hanging on.
I want to see comparison of tax defaults this cycle versus prior years. Will they have the courage to do that, not likely.
Vote for Amendment 3 and you’ll see a real TRIM notice.
I personally don’t see a major concern. The increase is about 1% give or take and inflation is much higher.
All feedback and complaints are focused on the tax rate, but the issue I see is the increase in property value as the cause for the increase in tax liability. So my question is, how is the “taxable value” of a property calculated? who determines the property value and whether it increased or decreased? that is the real issue in my view.
TRIM, as in trim your wallet of ANY disposable cash you may be hiding.
Alachua county is screwing the public blind!