Alachua County to consider new millage rate

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) will set two proposed millage rates for the 2023 fiscal budget at Tuesday’s regular meeting, and backup documents show the rate may fall. 

County Manager Michele Lieberman proposed a lower general rate at a special meeting at the end of June and recommended a cautious outlook for the next year. She noted at the meeting that the county has lowered its general millage rate the past five consecutive years. 

Both the general county rate along with the law enforcement (MSTU) rate will be on the agenda. Lieberman has presented the BOCC with a drop from 7.8662 mills to 7.7662 mills. The MSTU rate is set to hold at 3.5678 mills. 

Any rates set on Tuesday could change before September when the commissioners will give final approval, but Tommy Crosby, assistant county manager, said at June’s meeting that the rate set Tuesday is the one the county advertises, meaning it could be difficult to backtrack later. 

The commissioner will also discuss initial proposals and set dates for public hearings on the fire, stormwater and solid waste assessments. 

Also on Tuesday’s agenda, the BOCC will evaluate and respond to three submittals for a private-public partnership for a new county administration building. 

The submissions, by AMJ Group Inc., E2L Real Estate Solutions LLC. and the Hunt REi Team, were considered and ranked at an RFP Committee meeting on June 3. AMJ Group Inc. received the top score. 

A new 180-unit, single-family subdivision will also show up on Tuesday’s agenda for approval. Called Buchanon Trails, the 67-acre development would be located just north of the West End subvisition. 

CHW Inc. submitted the application on Jan. 31 and, after revisions, passed the Preliminary Development Plan Hearing on June 17. 

The BOCC will get another look at a proposed statue for the West Lawn on the county’s administration building. The BOCC approved the top submission in May but asked for a redesign to make the Sankofa bird more realistic.