MediaUpdate

​​The 86-acre Koppers Superfund site in central Gainesville has undergone decades of environmental cleanup to rectify earlier decades of pollution and contamination that leached into the groundwater and surface waters.

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​Evins-Wood House in Alachua County added to National Register of Historic Places.

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​Gainesville residents learned about a new phase of the cleanup at the Cabot-Koppers Superfund Site on Wednesday. The site has had decades of industrial activity contaminating soil and groundwater.

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​The UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County Office is pleased to announce the 4-H Youth Development Programs for November 2026. These programs are offered by 4-H Youth Development Agent Mary Lee Sale.

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​More than 400 judo athletes from over 40 countries are expected at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center (4870 Celebration Pointe, Gainesville) from Oct. 28 through Nov. 1 for an international competition and official qualifier for the 2028 Olympic Games.

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​More than 400 judo athletes from over 40 countries will gather in Gainesville from Oct. 28 through Nov. 1 for an international competition that includes an official qualifier for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

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​The Alachua County Animal Shelter is resuming dog adoptions after a medical outbreak disrupted operations.

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​Alachua County Animal Resources is reopened for dog adoptions effective today, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. Both dog and cat intakes will continue to be limited to emergency-only situations due to the high number of animals at the shelter. 

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​The Alachua County Clerk of the Circuit Court will hold a sealed-bid auction for surplus County property on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 919 SE 5th St., in Gainesville (behind the former Fire Rescue Headquarters).

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​Local officials across Alachua County are divided over Amendment 3 as they weigh the potential impact the property tax measure could have on local government revenue and services.

​The Alachua County Commission held an Oct. 6 special meeting in which county officials said the proposed amendment would significantly reduce tax revenue, by around $43 million in FY28 and $64 million in FY29.

On June 2, the Florida Legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment that will appear on the November 2026 general election ballot. If approved, the measure would significantly reduce property taxes levied across municipalities.

In a 30-9 vote, the Florida Senate approved the “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” measure, joining the House in placing the proposed amendment before voters. The amendment would raise the non-school homestead exemption from about $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.

In an Oct. 6 presentation, Alachua County officials said several county services could potentially be affected, including Fire Rescue and EMS, Animal Resources, Public Works, Sheriff's Office contracts and jail operations, courts and judicial services, and social services and housing programs.

The county adopted the rollback rate on Sept. 22, lowering its countywide General Fund millage rate for the 10th consecutive year to 7.2107 mills. Under the county's projections, if Amendment 3 passes, the millage rate would need to increase to 8.4483 mills in FY28 and 9.3966 mills in FY29 to make up for lost tax revenue.

​In an guest column submitted to The Gainesville Sun, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods wrote that the state's Revenue Estimating Conference projects the amendment would cut local non-school property tax revenue by roughly $11.86 billion every year. Woods wrote that the amendment names no way to replace that money and includes no plan to fund public safety.

​"In my county of Marion County, there is a ton at stake. We estimate a $61,688,204 million drop in operating revenue, potentially affecting about 267 positions. This isn't a fringe concern. Sheriffs from all parties are sounding the alarm. This isn’t politics, it’s math."

High Springs Commissioner Chad Howell told The Sun that the city is projected to be the fifth most affected by Amendment 3 out of 411 cities, according to the Florida League of Cities, a nonpartisan organization that advocates on behalf of Florida's cities and supports local leaders through specialized events, training and resources.

​With High Springs projected to lose $1.8 million in ad valorem tax revenue by 2028, Howell said the loss would represent a significant portion of the city's $22 million total budget and pose a severe threat to municipal stability because High Springs is primarily residential, with a limited industrial and commercial tax base.

When asked about his stance on the amendment, Howell replied, "As a commissioner no, as a citizen, I guess I didn't know what I knew as far as how much it's going to affect public services, you know fire, police all those kinds of things.... It's hard for me to say that yes I would vote for it but I would have liked to see the people that need help be helped but at the same time balancing the idea of continuing ad valorem, allowing for smaller cities for smaller municipalities to continue to thrive or at least attempt to thrive"

​Waldo City Council member Monique Taylor told The Sun that she is not in favor of Amendment 3 and that her fellow council members are split on the measure. Taylor added that Waldo, which has an annual budget of about $2 million, would see a $50,000 cut that could affect its fire department, library, community programs and personnel.

"Don't believe the hype that it's going to be better for the renters, it is not. It's going affect the people that don't get the homestead exemption, your rent is going to go up," Taylor said.

Alachua County Children's Trust Executive Director Marsha Kiner said that if the amendment passes, the trust would face a $2 million loss in the fiscal year beginning in October 2027. Kiner said the Children's Trust has a budget of around $7 million, with all of its funding derived from property taxes.

"We funded 24 summer camps to the tune of $2 million. If this passes in year one, that could equate to that same dollar amount that we funded those summer camps right?" Kiner said.

​While Kiner did not state her stance on the amendment, instead saying voters should decide for themselves, she encouraged voters to research the matter before making a decision.

Newberry Mayor Tim Marden told The Sun that local municipalities could be better served by trimming their budgets rather than trying to convince voters to reject the measure.

“Being more proactive in anticipation of the tax being passed,” Marden said. “These officials are trying to get voters to vote against the measure to protect themselves.”

Former Alachua County Commissioner Raemi Eagle-Glenn said in a social media post that voting to cut homestead property taxes is a “no-brainer" and added that her taxable property value includes a $50,000 deduction. She argued the county could continue delivering services even with reduced revenue.

“DeSantis proposes a $150,000 deduction for 2027 property taxes, then a $250,000 deduction by 2028,” Eagle-Glenn said. “Our counties will ease into the new deductions. No, services will not be cut like having the rug pulled out from under us.”

​Early voting began Oct. 19 and will end Nov. 1. Voters can also cast their ballots on Election Day, Nov. 3.