Alachua County approves tentative FY2026 millage and budget; residents warn rising property taxes threaten seniors and heirs properties

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 11 held the first public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 proposed millage and tentative budget and adopted resolutions setting the countywide proposed millage at 7.6 mills and approving the tentative general fund budget and several non‑ad valorem assessments.

County Attorney staff opened the hearing by explaining the Truth in Millage (TRIM) process required under Florida law and the notice procedures used to inform taxpayers. The county announced a proposed countywide millage rate of 7.6 mills, a 6.36% increase over the rollback rate of 7.1455 mills. The county manager presented the tentative FY2026 budget total of $946,936,554 — a net increase of $2,610,774 from the county manager’s prior proposed budget — and noted property tax revenue for FY2026 is estimated at $229,156,150, $16,519,946 higher than FY2025.

County staff emphasized the drivers behind higher revenue needs: rapidly rising taxable property values in parts of the county, double‑digit inflation over recent years, increased labor and construction costs,…