Cents & Sensibility Chapter 8

With all the discussion happening across Florida about local government budgets, Alachua County is joining the conversation through this series: Cents & Sensibility: Alachua County's Budget in Eight Chapters.

Chapter 8: Looking Forward

Over the past seven chapters of Cents and Sensibility, Alachua County has explored the many facets and complexities of its budgeting process.

This series helps residents understand how county revenues are generated and spent; examines the enormous number of programs, facilities, and services counties must fund; and looks at the hundreds of unfunded mandates handed down by the Florida Legislature over the last 50-plus years.

This final chapter looks ahead, focusing on how the County Commission's priorities and mandates align with prudent and sound budgeting practices. To inform its budget decisions, the county relies on long-range planning tools, including master plans and department-specific studies for areas including Fire Rescue, Parks, and Public Works/Transportation.

The county's two primary frameworks for future planning are the Comprehensive Plan and the Strategic Guide, adopted by the Alachua County Commission effective Oct. 1, 2025.

Read Ch. 8 in full.

Catch up on previous chapters:

• Ch. 1 - Public Influence & The Budget
• Ch. 2 - What Is The General Fund?
• Ch. 3 - Understanding Property Taxes
• Ch. 4 - Unfunded Mandates
• Ch. 5 - Why Budgets Grow Over Time
• Ch. 6 - Reserves: Planning for Rainy Days
• Ch. 7 - The Total Budget: Much More Than Property Taxes
  

For more information, contact Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or [email protected].

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