[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6096745,"mediaKeyId","2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887","parentId",2830838,"title","Gainesville staff flags state and federal bills that could affect local budgets, permitting and liability","audioSeconds",433,"startMs",4372000,"endMs",4805000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887&start=4372&end=4805","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887/thumbnail_4372000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6096745/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Gainesville-staff-flags-state-and-federal-bills-that-could-affect-local-budgets-permitting-and-liability","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096745-15b6cecb032b6ac51b0016b3b6f6647e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864574&Signature=aoT88c2dRJ6-HOJQzlO7o2ECPEc4b3~2kfWwTcTdjbsVvkOxTh3kD5rvE4qDIfjeCfHUkEoRDF1BFW~-ruyXtZYt2~omlORzT3l4~9eyACqSFqSFsJ3FkmpU3Ada~b1~2yktQzqIlRYva1lQGYz1f5ccyzSYZI6gY6CJqxSxO7ZVan7kMskhAnPJI4ewKv0fOXh4JiORsbMbdKWNXTTrnPIfQA-CZJS7veZQiMGDUHCMhtASX2mK9F7KkgfPL6ttRwLBsmeUUcTI18ntpJV67w9IwpEZF3ztz59xDxsMLR16w1hjAfmkzSz1PLSiv1pyuW72fkWhDu7jucvQN6o86A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Gainesville, FL ","date","2025-03-27T00:00:00Z","article","John Alexander, director of government affairs and community relations, briefed the commission on state and federal legislative activity that could affect Gainesville.

On the state side, staff highlighted multiple bills under active consideration:

- HB 501 (hands-free driving): expands hands-free restrictions statewide beyond school and work zones; bill has moved through some committees.

- HB 301 (sovereign-immunity/limits increase): proposes raising per-person limits (staff noted proposals to increase statutory caps from current statutory levels to higher amounts; the measure also would narrow timelines for pre‑suit notice). The proposal remains contested in the Senate.

- Claims bill related to a 2015 crash: a filed special-claims bill seeks legislative relief on an $11 million judgment in a case involving a utility employee and resulted in staff noting that the claim currently ranks among the largest claims bills pending in Florida. The City Attorney explained the claim stemmed from an accident involving a GRU employee driving a city/utility vehicle; outside counsel and the utility have been involved in the defense, and the utility is funding the defense. City legal staff said they have no indication the claim would shift to general-government liability, and the utility has retained lobbyists and counsel in Tallahassee to oppose the bill.

- Local-business-tax limitation bills: would limit municipalities’ ability to impose or increase some local business taxes and could reduce local revenue (city finance staff estimated a possible impact in the hundreds of thousands of dollars if enacted).

- Homestead-exemption proposals (constitutional amendment and implementation bills): several measures would expand the homestead exemption and would require a referendum; staff noted implementation and fiscal impacts would be phased if enacted.

- Permitting and building-code bills (e.g., HB 695, SB 1128): propose changes that would allow private providers expanded permitting rights and could limit local code-enforcement/permitting authority — the Florida League of Cities opposes aspects of these measures.

On federal priorities, staff and the city’s federal lobbyist monitor developments including tax‑credit proposals for affordable housing, Department of Transportation grant review (which could affect Safe Streets for All and other federal awards), NIH funding litigation and continuing-congress spending actions that could affect grant programs. Staff also noted a recent appointment to the U.S. Senate and that the city’s federal lobbyists are tracking relevant committee actions.

Commissioners asked for follow-up briefings on the potential fiscal effect of local-business-tax limits and on the claims bill; the City Attorney reiterated that the pending claims bill arises from a utility-related accident and that the utility has been representing and funding defense and lobbying.

Ending: Staff will continue tracking bills, provide timely updates as committee actions occur and return requested fiscal-impact analyses to the commission.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Gainesville City Commission Special Meeting on Budget Mar. 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff and lobbyists reviewed state and federal proposals affecting municipal operations, including hands‑free driving, bills to raise sovereign-immunity caps and a filed claims bill tied to a 2015 accident involving a utility employee; permitting and local-business-tax proposals could also affect local revenue and regulatory authority.","taxTitle","Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida","taxId",4825,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096749,"Gainesville outlines surtax-funded projects: Southwest Public Safety Center, Job Corps site under review and affordable-housing set-aside",250,2149000,2399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887&start=2149&end=2399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887/thumbnail_2149000.jpg","/articles/6096749/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Gainesville-outlines-surtax-funded-projects-Southwest-Public-Safety-Center-Job-Corps-site-under-review-and-affordable-housing-set-aside","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096749-63272723f6abaed2e5b703a3e891bba8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864574&Signature=nx264u2tUdImuBXtM5WG98ZZ6WP6rwLegbEJ2FUs3g~N~~vcGFKhr9bYJWJj9JCoWwcYcEF3kyTaCWFyiHGHfVLnWVCLRbk3Q8yO1j5gSL91JVs4CJf-Zn2C83WX3SstRSf3NuXUTtP~Q~vUfdOZWKRueK5tUfxes0jzw95vx2-I7mWaEkQRgU72ImiE8N7qigy2VeJFFUvv1Xl91d-2jDYfBkRVfkSL21tqexzXntNYMySU5PldRrmQTpYm52ZhtALYegfdMG2e5nrNVXu3cVnIDlnA98uipx74RnquVCnNhmeto1A2ass1LNoYxcxJZuKPDNfdTdNNT7hwopRd-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Phil Mann, special adviser to the city manager for capital projects, briefed the commission on the street-stations & strong-foundations and Wild Spaces Public Places surtax funds. Mann said FY2024 surtax revenues came in above earlier projections and listed major projects underway and planned.

Highlights and schedules Mann provided include:

- Southwest Public Safety Center: Projected cost $28,750,000. Staff is working with the Health Care Authority (HCA) to acquire right-of-way or property; design and acquisition are underway with construction anticipated to start in fall 2026.

- GFR Station 3 and training: Site planning is ongoing; staff are exploring several locations including a potential combined training center if the federal Job Corps parcel becomes available (Job Corps site includes roughly 40 acres, federal ownership). Mann said the Job Corps site has known contamination questions that require GSA coordination and possible remediation before acquisition.

- Gainesville Police Department property and evidence building: Budgeted at roughly $20,000,000 and currently in design/permitting with construction expected to begin in February 2026.

- Northeast Ninth Street: Final design approved; construction expected to begin in spring 2026.

- Affordable-housing set-aside: The surtax program currently sets aside 10% of funds for affordable housing. Staff reported a pending RFP to identify a development partner; responses were due in the days around the meeting. Mann noted there is pending state legislation that could give local governments more flexibility around the 10% requirement; staff may return with a request for city advocacy if the commission desires.

- Wild Spaces projects: Fund balance of about $34 million (including prior and current surtaxes) supports projects such as Ring Park, Kiwanis Challenge Park, the Hippodrome elevator renovation, Delmont Bolton Center structural repairs and various multipurpose trails. Mann gave estimated costs for immediate preservation needs at about $12.4 million and an additional $14.6 million for a five-year preservation horizon.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about acreage of the Job Corps site, ownership (federal government), and whether the site could be used for homeless services; Mann said federal surplus procedures prioritize homeless-service providers first, then federal agencies, then local governments, and noted possible legal constraints given proximity to a chemical plant.

Ending: Staff will return with further design and acquisition materials, a recommended approach for housing set-aside projects, and any legislative requests commissioners want the city to pursue.","Staff outlined progress and schedules for surtax-funded capital projects including the Southwest Public Safety Center (projected $28.75M), GPD evidence building ($20M in design), Northeast Ninth Street work, and a 10% affordable-housing set-aside; Job Corps federal parcel is being evaluated as a possible training site.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096754,"Gainesville reviews solid-waste fund as city prepares curbside contract and billing changes",263,1946000,2209000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887&start=1946&end=2209","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887/thumbnail_1946000.jpg","/articles/6096754/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Gainesville-reviews-solid-waste-fund-as-city-prepares-curbside-contract-and-billing-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096754-9b3d327b4d1fb4b30cfbbc2876ef8ad8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864574&Signature=T-985VlIzGdb77MnZ~A7h5uNZvbLq3E4PBhbM1EZEEg8u4fgUUHS2yVE6NnwxYr9vfsCIKgfQqBwZj2SEQd6AL3cMU4bfPWDrudN0wB1lA0ncCIhRLMkKHj~RPgiiMfbujI9t~rQgHeK7~JboPoaYmzwi42pL3KAkLOin0tbAH8vAeRM5qvCl~rR5O2X1-s-jf2RIV5d~9PTyyJiqT9b8ES~b2lHLuCs61~vee-VkDETLaM7rLdTvu5gGCc-VHlN6pC0sUNwRp~GvU~WZKCib0D9M0WgkQKaK~meLV~7Odi4TEbQiV~iwTB6sNO9pWvj24WLCEUDSAjvH6uGs~vsCg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works Director Brian Singleton told the commission the city completed an ordinance adjusting solid-waste-cart fees and is finalizing an invitation-to-negotiate (ITN) for curbside pickup. Staff said competitive negotiations aim to reduce future cost impacts for the solid-waste fund and that projected revenues and expenditures may change based on contract outcomes.

Singleton said staff is conducting a fee-sufficiency analysis and designing contracts needed to shift collection charges from utility bills to the tax bill beginning November 2026. That shift requires a legal methodology because the solid-waste fund currently transfers some revenue to the pavement program; staff said they must ensure legal sufficiency when moving the fee to a tax-bill mechanism.

On commercial service, Singleton said the city’s commercial-franchise system is regulated by City ordinance chapter 27 and operates as an open market: businesses, apartment complexes and condo associations may negotiate with permitted franchise haulers; those haulers pay a 15% franchise fee to the solid-waste fund on gross receipts. Singleton told commissioners the fund’s outlook will hinge on how competitive the curbside contract negotiations are and the degree to which contract costs can be contained.

Ending: Commissioners had no substantive objections and urged staff to continue competitive procurement and share fee-methodology work with the commission when available.","Public Works director said the city’s curbside pickup procurement and contractor negotiations will determine the solid-waste fund trajectory; staff plans to move billing from GRU to the tax bill in November 2026 pending methodology and legal review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6096759,"Gainesville kicks off FY2026 budget; commission approves higher fire assessment recoup and asks staff to propose fund-balance options",5096,948000,6044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887&start=948&end=6044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2830838-f2e7bdbe4926b6ccc6649c9d45534887/thumbnail_948000.jpg","/articles/6096759/Gainesville/Alachua-County/Florida/Gainesville-kicks-off-FY2026-budget-commission-approves-higher-fire-assessment-recoup-and-asks-staff-to-propose-fund-balance-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6096759-c9c3cf4fdef268f96a399cb988f8a0e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770864574&Signature=WvafpWSeDWmRUGveACeDnemaWKz6SUQe080vMaobPbGdkno7pkI-oBP2wGNK~QEfguIQZcfq8QpSDLT9YhLlXUrXz29otOszczNMtcBPPHYIwEW-dRuJ-U8EfBYWBpUcTRN4Vm5agU8kpKGXzvNygk-09gV3XEfGsAc~asmdlBYlOBoE8S1dhoI7jhs6TQpT5Goh~8fLr5qWrcrC3aFCefEsgMYljSu--n7v~0TZHgLDrwt28SdWMznaYZn7ZG0bBvdD0GG0ngE-en~~8sh1J29WCSUUxddjB~6b9oz~uNxakKBMXMA7hfwuY6G1FwnfvdMUlk3FNsbKXX8RDm7iMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor opened a special City Commission meeting on March 27 saying, “This is a kickoff to the budget process. We’re not making actual budget decisions today,” as staff laid out early FY2026 revenue and expenditure estimates.

City staff presented an early general fund revenue estimate of about $156.7 million, roughly $1.4 million above FY2025, and an expenditure estimate near $162 million — a preliminary gap of about $5.3 million. Revenue assumptions include a conservative 6% taxable value growth (a 10-year average near 7%), a 96% property-tax collection assumption, removal of a $1.2 million one-time ARPA replacement used in FY2025, and modest growth in other taxes and fee adjustments. On the expenditure side staff identified a $6.6 million (4.3%) increase driven largely by personnel costs; roughly $3.1 million of that increase is tied to public-safety salaries and the budget restores about 20 previously frozen positions.

Finance staff told the commission that the city’s unassigned general-fund balance is currently about $58.5 million against a policy target of $40.4 million, leaving roughly $18 million in excess reserves. Staff recommended keeping fund balance principally for one‑time and capital uses while avoiding recurring commitments that would weaken the city’s financial position or credit ratings.

On a specific revenue item, staff recommended changing the fire-assessment recoup rate. The fire-assessment methodology (implemented 2010, updated 2023) uses a five‑year average with escalators to determine an assessable fire budget of roughly $28 million. Under the updated methodology the city previously recouped about 51.68% of that assessable budget; staff recommended increasing the recoupment to 53%, which would add about $317,000 in revenue for FY2026. Commissioners discussed that the change increases the amount recovered across property owners (spread in small increments), and staff confirmed the recommendation is a higher share of cost recovery rather than a change in the method of assessment.

After discussion, the commission voted to direct staff to return with options for use of the general-fund balance above the policy minimum, focused on capital preservation and sustainable one‑time projects. Commissioners asked staff to meet individually with commissioners to collect priorities and to return recommended options for commission consideration.

The commission also voted to approve the staff recommendation to recoup 53% of the assessable fire budget in FY2026. Commissioners asked staff to include analyses of available exemptions (government, charitable/religious and hardship exemptions) in follow-up materials; staff said those exemptions exist and are partly discretionary.

Staff described the remainder of the FY2026 schedule: revenue- and expenditure-refinement through department workshops in May and June, a proposed maximum millage discussion in July after tentative property-value notices, and public hearings in September (adjusted this year to comply with TRIM mailing timing).

Ending: Staff emphasized that the numbers are early and that a preliminary gap is common in a kickoff presentation. The commission set the process for workshops and requested follow-up material on exemptions, use of excess fund balance, and more detailed revenue and expenditure scenarios ahead of the May workshops.","City staff presented early FY2026 estimates showing a preliminary $5.3 million general fund gap. The commission approved recouping 53% of the assessable fire budget and directed staff to return proposals for using excess fund balance on capital and one-time needs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gainesville staff flags state and federal bills that could affect local budgets, permitting and liability

Gainesville outlines surtax-funded projects: Southwest Public Safety Center, Job Corps site under review and affordable-housing set-aside

Gainesville reviews solid-waste fund as city prepares curbside contract and billing changes

Gainesville kicks off FY2026 budget; commission approves higher fire assessment recoup and asks staff to propose fund-balance options