Aside from electing local and national representatives, Alachua County voters also decided on several local ballot referendums and amendments. They’re amendments to city and county rules, known as charters.
Of the seven referendums and amendments appearing on Alachua County, Gainesville and High Springs ballots, all seven passed.
Gainesville referendums
GRU ownership - Passed
The Gainesville Regional Utilities authority oversight referendum allowed Gainesville voters to decide whether ownership should return to the city, or remain with a state-appointed board called the GRU Authority.
Following the approval of HB 1645 in 2023, Gainesville’s public utilities have been overseen by a governor-appointed board.
The law required board members to live within Gainesville’s city limits, but only one of the original five members lived in Gainesville. The other four members resigned in May to settle a lawsuit filed by Gainesville Residents United.
The new board was appointed May 24, with former GRU general manager and 2022 Gainesville mayoral candidate Edward Bielarski elected as chair.
The referendum passed with 39,304 votes.
At-large County Commission seats - Passed
An Alachua County referendum allowed county residents to decide whether they want to return to an at-large system for county commission seats.
Alachua County was previously run under an at-large election system, in which candidates don’t represent a specific district within the county and all residents have a say in their appointment. In single-member districts, residents of each designated district are only able to vote for one candidate to represent their own district.
Residents voted on the issue in 2022, switching Alachua County’s structure from at-large to single-member districts.
The referendum was drafted after concerns of misinformation during the 2022 campaigning period were brought up at a county commission meeting.
The referendum passed with 90,881 votes.
One Mill renewal - Passed
Voters also decided to renew the One Mill tax, a property tax going toward arts programs at Alachua County schools.
The existing one mill ad valorem tax donates $1 of every $1,000 of taxable property to Alachua County Public Schools.
The One Mill has been supported by a strong majority of voters in Alachua County since it was first approved in 2008. It raises about $23 million annually, helping fund the salaries of over 350 local teachers.
The referendum passed with 98,585 votes
High Springs amendments
Amendment 1: Updating Corporate Boundary - Passed
The corporate boundary amendment will update High Springs’ boundaries to its current boundary and ensure the city can change its boundaries, as allowed by the law.
Amendment 2: Updating Public Notice Requirements - Passed
The amendment will allow the city to publish public notices online.
Amendment 3: Updating Oath of Office and Ability to Alter Appropriations and Reductions - Passed
The amendment will require city elected officials to ensure they’re eligible to run for office before running. It will/would also allow the City Commission to work with the City Manager to revise budgets.
Amendment 4: Updating Public Owned Lands - Passed
The amendment will add public parks and the sports complex to the list of publicly owned lands.
Contact Bailey Diem at bdiem@alligator.org. Follow her on X @BaileyDiem.
Bailey Diem is the Fall 2024 Metro Editor at The Alligator. She spent previous semesters reporting for The Alligator's University and Metro desks. In her free time, Bailey enjoys playing guitar or getting lost in a book.
