Gainesville wants its city commission to prevent watching the city’s utilities.
In amongst four local ballot measures Tuesday, the proposed alter in governance over Gainesville Regional Utilities happened to defeat by way of margin of approximately 60 percent to 40 %.
If the referendum had passed, the Commission could have faced uncharted territory appointing an unbiased oversight board.
“It’s a vote of confidence in your system of government,” said Gainesville City Commissioner Harvey Ward. “It’s a victory for home rule.”
In the additional city measure to the ballot, voters approved changing term limits for that city commission and mayor.
The election year and term limit referendum will change many years the metropolis commission elections are held to coincide with statewide elections held some other even-numbered year. The change will start using the regular election in 2022.
In the two main county-wide measures on the ballot:
- Voters overwhelmingly approved the half-cent florida sales tax increase for Alachua County for improvements to public-school facilities.
- In another one-sided contest, voters approved the Alachua County Children’s Trust, a 10-person board will oversee programs to better child welfare.
Of usual measures, the vote about the control of utilities brought several of the strongest reaction Tuesday night.
“It’s a massive statement from the city’s residents they will need to keep control of their particular utility and elect individuals who run it,” Gainesville Mayor Lauren Poe said.
Mayor Poe said the town commission will work to find techniques to reduced utility rates, citing the 14% reduction in Gainesville utility rates within the last few a couple of years.
The returns, the sentiments: See Election Day photos from around Gainesville
Although Rep. Chuck Clemons, R-Newberry, sponsored the GRU referendum bill from the state House of Representatives, he was quoted saying he supports Gainesville voters’ decision to offer the current oversight of GRU.
“I guess the status quo is precisely what the town of Gainesville residents have voted (for), and they’ll obtain the same sort of representation they voted for,” Clemons said.
As with the adjustments to election years for any city commission, Ward said they will improve voter turnout in city elections and really should save costs for that cities in sharing the cost to carry elections using the state and county.
“The greatest benefit is usually that we’ll have at least two times numerous people taking part in our city elections,” Ward said.
The tax increase which will benefit schools drew praise from Alachua County Commissioner Ken Cornell.
“I think it shows how important kids within our community are and guaranteeing there is a good learning environment,” Cornell said.
The approved tax increase will provide about $22 million annually for 12 years. The tax is going to be implemented starting Jan. 1.
“We’re qualified to spend some money we haven’t had in the past,” Alachua County School Board Member Tina Certain said. “The goal is always to spend those funds equitably across the county.”
The Alachua County School Board works to approve an allocation plan sooner, Certain said.
