BY JENNIFER CABRERA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At the February 10 Alachua County Commission meeting, County staff responded to a recent Florida DOGE report that highlighted Alachua County budget increases, and Commissioners expressed the hope that initiatives to limit property taxes on homesteaded properties would fail.
Alachua County Manager Michele Lieberman said that since Fiscal Year 2018, Alachua County has reduced the general millage rate by 0.8648 mills, a 10.22% decrease, while the MSTU Law Enforcement (MSTU-LE) millage rate has remained unchanged for the past six years. Over the same time period, the property valuation in the county increased 72%, while property taxes increased 54%…