The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) traveled to Archer City Hall on Monday for its annual joint meeting with the City Commission, where the governing bodies discussed Archer’s financial status, as well as county resources for the city as it prepares for growth. 

On Feb. 2, Powell and Jones CPA reported the 2024 audit to the City Commission but said that it could not issue a disclaimer of opinion due to accounting discrepancies and missing documentation. 

According to the firm’s report, Archer had a “very substantial” and “very concerning” $448,000 deficit in its fund balance, as well as a $131,000 deficit between expenditures and revenues. The city spent more than $300,000 over its $1,010,000 budget for that year, finishing with a net worth of $2,315,000. 

During Monday’s meeting, Archer interim City Manager John Martin informed the BOCC that the state’s Joint Legislative Auditing Committee was not necessarily OK with everything in the audit, but that it was satisfied with the report. He said there are no holds on funding for Archer. 

When BOCC Commissioner Anna Prizzia asked if the city had a repayment plan for the county’s Wild Spaces & Public Places funds for FY 2026, Archer Mayor Fletcher Hope said he did not have a formal letter outlining one. But he said the city intended to use surplus properties, which all have ready buyers. 

Hope also said the city’s regional wastewater system was advancing on time. The earliest Archer would begin construction would be 2027, he said, as Newberry looked to complete its facility by 2028. 

City Commissioner Karen Fiore added that the city still needs grant funding for the project and that there would be costs to residents.  

“I don’t want everyone to think that we’re trying to say that everything’s paid for, because we still have a big hurdle,” she said. “And it won’t be two years. I believe the two-year mark is just to get this plant to connect, but we still have to get the funding for that.”  

Prizzia said the new facility and other changes in the city will trigger growth in Archer, which will likely bring good things like a tax base and jobs, as well as challenges like preserving rural life, air and water quality. 

She suggested the city review its comprehensive plan and seek out the county’s resources before growth comes. 

“We care very deeply about the way our community grows, both in the unincorporated areas, as well as in the municipalities, and want to support the municipalities in growing responsibly,” Prizzia said.  

Alachua County Assistant County Manager Missy Daniels presented the county’s planning and development services, which she said emphasized annexation preparation and adaptation.  

Daniels said the services aim to clarify responsibilities between the city, county and annexed land for services such as fire, police and utilities. 

Alachua County’s Economic Development Manager Sean McLendon also presented the county’s Forward Focus initiative to the City Commission, which the BOCC offered could benefit Archer. 

McLendon said the three-part, three-year program aims to stimulate growth in eastern Alachua County and just completed its first year. 

Phase one during year one included communicating with around 18,000 residents across a 500-square-mile portion of the community by creating newsletters and websites to learn about what’s important to them and what their issues are. 

The second year will offer insights based on feedback, enabling the county to utilize resources effectively to tackle issues in the third year. 

Martin, who formerly served as Hawthorne’s city manager, said it encouraged him that the county would consider Archer for the program, as he sees the city facing similar issues he experienced in Hawthorne on the east side. 

County Commissioner Mary Alford stated that the county can utilize the data gathered from Forward Focus to secure additional grants. She said she believes the initiative could work for Archer and other western areas of the county.  

“I think that’s something Archer and this whole surrounding area could also look at in the future and maybe use this as a model,” Alford said. “I think this is a good opportunity for Eastern Alachua County, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t be an opportunity for Archer as well.” 

Alachua County’s Assistant Public Works Director Brian Kauffman updated the commissions on a project to widen a 3.84-mile segment of Archer Road (State Road 24), aiming to prepare for growth around Archer. The project stretches from SW 75th Street (Tower Road) to SW 122nd Street (Parker Road). 

So far, Kauffman said a baseline survey for phase one design plans and the initial traffic impact study had been completed. He said a $2.25 million grant from the Florida Department of Transportation, which maintains the road, funded phase one.  

County staff should complete the topographic data by March, as the BOCC asks the state for an additional $2.25 million appropriation to complete the remaining design plans. Kauffman said at least three public meetings will be held between now and the summer of 2027, when Kimley-Horn is expected to finish the plans.