2024 Annual Report and FY 25 Budget Message
Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman presented the 2024 Annual Report. The video presentation highlights the county’s accomplishments over the past year and looks ahead to its goals and challenges.
“This year, as I reviewed the excellent work of our departments, two words kept recurring: services and support – as in the essential services we provide every county resident, and the tremendous support we give our cities, constitutional officers, public schools, the University of Florida, the state and non-profits,” Lieberman said.
“It is easy to be confused about which services are provided by the county, and which by other governments,” she added. “Our population lives in both cities and the unincorporated area, but all are residents of Alachua County – and we serve everyone.”
Watch the Annual Report video.
Next, Lieberman presented her budget message and delivered her fiscal year 25 tentative budget to the County Commission. She presented a balanced budget and recommended lowering the general fund property tax millage rate for the eighth consecutive year.
"This budget includes $44 million for roads, funding for constructing a new civil courthouse, a new animal shelter and a significantly remodeled fire rescue facility," said Commission Chair Mary Alford. "These are major initiatives. For many counties, any one of those things would be a big deal."
The manager also highlighted the critical challenge of retaining and attracting employees, recommending a 6% raise and increasing the minimum wage from $17 to $18.
“This budget emphasizes the importance of operating a healthy, sustainable workplace with realistic and reasonable expectations of our employees,” Lieberman said. “Workforce retention is essential to our organization and our goal of achieving the commission's strategic priorities.”
The commission will now begin its deliberations in anticipation of finalizing the budget in September.
Read the budget message.
Watch the presentation.
See the entire county manager’s FY25 proposed budget
At-large districts on November ballot
The County Commission voted to add a referendum to the 2024 November ballot that will ask residents if they want to elect commissioners at-large, meaning you can vote for all five commission members.
Watch the discussion.
Composting at EcoLoop
The commission authorized staff to begin negotiations with Sunshine Organics and Compost to create a lease agreement for the construction and operation of a major composting facility at the EcoLoop.
It will be the first commercial composting facility in
The EcoLoop is located on 30-plus acres of land in northeast Gainesville, adjacent to the Leveda Brown Environmental Park and Transfer Station, where an array of items are recycled and repurps
In 2021, the commission adopted a Zero Waste strategy and plan to help reduce waste throughout the county to help combat climate change. The partnership with the Jacksonville-based Sunshine Organics will aim to divert around 120,000 tons of yard, food and wood waste that would otherwise go to landfills, which are the third leading cause of methane gas emissions in the country.
Food waste in particular makes up for 58% of all methane emissions, according to a 2023 report from the Environmental Protection Agency. Alachua County produces an estimated 56,000 tons of food waste annually. The company also specializes in creating biochar (one of the top ways to mitigate climate change) and will soon be the largest commercial biochar producer in the southeast.
The commission later voted to create a hazardous waste collection facility at the EcoLoop and to build a rural collection center at the Newberry Environmental Park.
Watch the discussion.
Heirs’ property
The commission agreed to move forward with a joint heirs’ property program to help residents (each with an interest in a property) with probate and estate planning to keep ownership of homes or land following a death in the family.
The program calls for approximately $180,000 annually, split evenly three ways, between the county, University of Florida Levin College of Law and city of Gainesville.
The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office has been working on the issues regarding heirs’ properties for over two years. Data from the office shows there is about $550 million in property value at risk of becoming “heirs” properties around the county.
Currently, there are over 3,000 parcels in “heirs” or deceased co-ownership in Alachua County.
Watch the discussion.
Recognitions
Citizens Academy
Graduates of the 2024 Alachua County Citizens Academy program were awarded certificates of completion. Citizens Academy is an eight-week crash course in Alachua County government by partnering with several county departments, local constitutional and judicial officers, the library and school districts and the health department.
Learn more about Citizens Academy.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Day
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler proclaimed May 15, 2024, as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Day in Alachua County.
Read the proclamation.
Watch the presentations.
See the full June 11 agenda and video.
See the full June 11 evening agenda and video.
