- Starting Oct. 1, Gainesville stormwater and solid waste charges will appear as non-ad valorem assessments on annual property tax bills instead of monthly GRU bills.
- The city offers the NAVAHAP program to reduce fire, stormwater, and solid waste assessments for eligible low-income and senior homeowners.
Gainesville property owners will notice an important change when Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices arrive in mailboxes this month. Beginning Oct. 1, charges for city stormwater and residential solid waste services will appear as non-ad valorem assessments on annual property tax bills.
According to a city of Gainesville press release sent on Tuesday, the change means the charges will no longer appear on customer billing statements from Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU). The transition follows a decision by GRU leadership to remove charges for city services from monthly utility bills.
Property owners within Gainesville city limits will see the assessments on annual TRIM notices mailed this week by the Alachua County Property Appraiser. The TRIM notice is not a bill. It allows property owners to review proposed property taxes and non-ad valorem assessments before final rates are adopted.
After property tax and assessment rates are adopted, annual tax bills will be mailed by the Alachua County Tax Collector beginning Nov. 1.
As with property taxes, payment of the special assessments will be handled online, by mail or in person through the Alachua County Tax Collector. Property owners also will be eligible for the same early-payment discounts that apply to property taxes.
“This year’s TRIM notice may look different because charges many neighbors have been accustomed to seeing on their GRU bills are now listed as an annual assessment alongside their property tax,” said Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward in the release. “We want people to understand exactly what they’re seeing, why the change is occurring and what they can expect moving forward.”
Service levels will not change
City officials said the change in billing will not affect service levels.
There will be no interruption to regularly scheduled garbage, recycling, yard waste or bulk waste collection. The city also will continue operating and maintaining the infrastructure system that collects, conveys and manages stormwater runoff.
“Our goal is to make this transition as straightforward as possible,” said Gainesville Public Works Director Gail Mowry in the release. “Residents should know they can rely on our crews to keep doing the job. Our schedules and responsibilities are not impacted by changes in billing methods.”
Fire assessment remains on property tax bills
Gainesville’s fire assessment has appeared on property tax bills since 2010, providing dedicated, equitable and stable funding for fire protection services within city limits.
The Gainesville City Commission pays the assessment on behalf of qualifying religious and charitable organizations to support nonprofits serving the community.
“Our firefighters respond wherever they’re needed, regardless of whether a property pays the fire assessment,” Ward said. “Gainesville has chosen to continue helping many nonprofit and faith-based organizations by allowing them to avoid much of the cost of fire protection. I think it’s important those organizations and the broader community understand the city made a conscious decision to subsidize the cost of their fire protection.”
Ward estimates the city provides approximately $800,000 in fire assessment subsidies for qualifying religious and nonprofit organizations.
Assistance available for eligible property owners
Property owners who may have difficulty paying non-ad valorem assessments may be eligible for assistance through the city’s Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Hardship Assistance Program, or NAVAHAP.
The program provides reductions in qualifying fire, stormwater and solid waste assessments for eligible low-income and senior homeowners. Applications for fiscal year 2027 are being accepted through Aug. 31.
Upcoming budget hearings
The Gainesville City Commission’s next budget meeting is a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 10. Commissioners will set the tentative millage rate, final assessment rates and approve the first reading of the fiscal year 2027 Financial and Operating Plan.
A second and final public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17. Commissioners will set the final millage rate and conduct the second and final reading of the fiscal year 2027 Financial and Operating Plan.
Residents seeking additional information about the assessments, billing changes or available assistance can visit the city’s special assessment webpage or contact Gainesville Public Works at 352-334-5070 or pubwrk@gainesvillefl.gov.
Questions about NAVAHAP can be directed to 352-334-5024 or citybc@gainesvillefl.gov.