Alachua County Commission passes limited support for Grace Marketplace as city commissioner strikes deal

Editor's note: A clarification appears at the end of this article.

A day after city and county leaders failed to agree on funding for a Gainesville homeless shelter, City Commissioner David Arreola approached the county commission, guaranteed four city votes, and a deal was struck.

Arreola said he would be willing to support the county’s original proposal from two weeks ago, which sees both governing boards jointly supporting Grace Marketplace for one more year, followed by the city exclusively funding the shelter in three years. In the meantime, the county would slowly divert its $1.5 million instead toward permanent housing for homeless people.

The City Commission turned down the proposal Monday night, maintaining that the county should continue to work together with the city to equally fund Grace Marketplace. Commissioners Helen Warren and Gail Johnson were absent.

Arreola said the county and city should now come together to support Grace.

“This is the only path forward I see to secure Grace Marketplace’s growing operational budget, the closing of Dignity Village this year, and to restore confidence to the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry," he said.

In a unanimous vote, the county agreed to contribute equal funds for Grace for the 2020 fiscal year, as well as $250,000 for the closure of Dignity Village, a homeless encampment outside of Grace.

Arreola said three city commissioners, including himself — a majority — would vote to pass the county’s proposal. The Gainesville City Commission approves its final budget on Thursday.

In other action, as predicted, the Alachua County Commission approved a final $471 million budget on Tuesday that allots $17 million more funding for its services.

More than $363 million of the total budget is dedicated for the county’s general fund.

The number reflects a 6% increase in property values in the area, meaning the county can bring in more money while keeping homeowner’s tax rates the same or less.

The millage rate was set at 8.27 mills, a slight drop by .01 from the 2019 fiscal year. One mill amounts to $1 for every $1,000 in taxable property value.

Clarification: City Commissioner David Arreola told the Alachua County Commission that he would support a measure first proposed by the county but rejected by the city, and had confidence it would pass on reconsideration. "I place my whole faith and confidence that at least once of my other colleagues will comprehend the nature of this problem and will join me to make a majority, although I hope they all will join," Arreola told the county commissioners. On Oct. 3, Arreola said he wants to make clear that he did not consult other city commissioners on their intentions outside of a public meeting.