Announcements
Communication Director Mark Sexton gave an update on the effectiveness of Alachua County’s social media sites.
Watch the announcements.
Budget and millage rate adoptions
The County Commission approved its budget and set millage rates for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). The millage rate was reduced to 7.6000, marking the ninth straight year the county has lowered the millage rate.
The Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) for law enforcement remains the same with a millage rate of 3.5678 mills.
The county’s FY26 budget is $947 million.
Watch the discussion.
Legacy community housing development
The commission approved moving forward with a grant application process for the development of workforce and market-rate housing on a 13-acre site in east Gainesville, known as the Legacy Project.
Objectives for the project, located at the corner of Southeast Eighth Avenue and Southeast 15th Street, are to build 30 or more detached single-family homes and to provide a mixed-income model within 50%-120% of the area median income (AMI).
Watch the discussion.
Management of Scottish Inns
The commission approved an agreement with the Alachua County Housing Authority to manage Forest Edge, formerly known as the Scottish Inns motel.
The property, located at 4341 SW 13th St. in Gainesville, is being converted from a motel to 31 efficiency units to house the county’s vulnerable population. The units will be studio apartments with a kitchenette and an open living space.
Paired with Forest Edge is the renovation of the former Budget Inn, which will be renamed East Tumblin Creek and is anticipated to be completed in December. The properties will total 67 housing units.
North of the property, the county’s container home pilot program will add approximately 10 more housing units.
Watch the discussion.
Read an in-depth article from WUFT.
Temporary use permitting process and Melrose special area plan
The commission heard two presentations regarding the temporary use permitting process for special events and discussed creating a special area plan for Melrose. The commission did not move forward with the special area plan.
Watch the discussion.
Recognitions
Commissioner Anna Prizia proclaimed Oct. 5-11, 2025 as National 4-H Week in Alachua County.
Read the proclamation.
Commissioner Marihelen Wheeler proclaimed Oct. 16, 2025 as Community Action Agency Day in Alachua County.
Read the proclamation.
Commissioner Ken Cornell proclaimed September as National Kinship Month in Alachua County.
Read the proclamation.
Commissioner Chair Charles Chuck Chestnut IV proclaimed Oct. 5-11, 2025 as Fire Prevention Week in Alachua County.
Read the proclamation.
Watch the presentations.
See the afternoon portion of the meeting.
See the evening portion of the meeting.
