The Gainesville City Commission held a special meeting Tuesday to present updates on the fiscal 2025 city budget.
The city manager’s office discussed funding for the fire, police, parks, recreation and cultural affairs and public works departments.
The general funds transfer from the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority, the process in which a portion of the GRU revenue is put toward funding vital community services such as police and fire protection, was a point of contention.
“I encourage everyone to focus on the truth that right now there are no cuts to be made,” said Mayor Harvey Ward.
Additionally, Resolution No. 2024-437, which relates to the provision and funding of fire services in the Gainesville community, was passed 5-1 with Commissioner Willits voting nay and Commissioner Chestnut absent.
The resolution established the Preliminary Fire Services Special Assessment Rates per square footage of single family, multi-family, commercial, industrial and institutional properties.
Willits made a motion to return to the demand passing methodology implemented in the FY 2010-2023 budgets. However, the motion failed due to lack of a second.
The rate of resolution public hearing will take place September 12.
Contact Morgan Vanderlaan at mvanderlaan@alligator.org. Follow her on X @morgvande.
Morgan Vanderlaan is a second year political science major and a Spring 2025 metro general assignment reporter. She has previously worked on the enterprise desk as a political reporter and on the county and city commission beat. When she's not on the clock she can be found writing, reciting and watching theatre!
