Alachua County Commission – 2021 Achievements

  • Led the County and Community through the COVID pandemic as we adjusted County operations to a new normal.
  • Led the County Commission through a Strategic Planning process resulting in 4 overarching priorities: 
  • Achieve Social and Economic Opportunity for all
  • Invest in and protect our environment
  • Address the housing gap
  • Accelerate progress on infrastructure;
  • Committed $15 million in annual funding for our new road pavement management Plan.
  • Invested in Newberry through funding the Agricultural and Equestrian Center, the Alachua County/UF IFAS offices and auditorium;  
  • Invested in the City of Alachua through significant contributions to Legacy Park Project.
  • Cooperating with several cities (Alachua, Hawthorne, High Springs, Newberry) in their Community Redevelopment efforts.
  • Provided Gas Tax revenue and Wild Spaces Public Places dollars at a rate higher than the state revenue sharing model that is required for all the cities;
  • Held – with all of Alachua County’s cities – a positive and optimistic discussion about future cooperation and committed to assisting all our cities with their legislative efforts.
  • Investing $30+ million in building the new Sports Event Center that will have an enormous economic impact through job creation, visitor revenue, and hotel stays.
  • Committed $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to provide Broadband access to those in need. In addition, we are committed to investing ARP dollars into a Central Receiving Facility, East side Health clinic and the newly formed Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
  • Deployed over $15+ million in American Rescue Plan dollars to residents for rental and utility assistance.
  • Committed $8 million in funding for a new Public Safety Trunked Radio system to better serve our rural areas.
  • Committed unprecedented resources to a local Truth & Reconciliation process to address years of institutional racism.
  • Lowered the property tax millage rate in each of the 7 years Ken has been on the Commission. The County Commission over this time has lowered the millage rate from 8.9mills in 2014 to less than 7.8mills in 2021.
  • Oppose the less representative, more expensive form of local government in HB1493 (sponsored by Representative Clemons & Senator Perry). Voters currently vote for all 5 county commissioners. Under this Tallahassee scheme, voters could no longer vote for or be represented by all 5 of their commissioners.
  • Committed to a new Animal Services Facility to better serve the entire County. 
  • Committed to investments on the Waldo Road corridor by changing the City of Gainesville CRA. Entered into an agreement with the US Army for a depot facility on the northern end of Waldo Road. This will have an economic impact of over $30+ million for East Gainesville.