County Releases ‘Cents & Sensibility’ Budget Guide
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026
In response to confusing property tax information put out in recent months by the State of Florida, Alachua County has released all eight chapters of its Cents & Sensibility budget series as a digital, interactive booklet designed to help residents better understand how county government is funded and how spending decisions are made.
Cents & Sensibility explains how the county budget works, where revenue comes from and how funds are used to support services that affect daily life. The guide uses plain language, infographics and links to break down complex financial topics.
Each chapter, released incrementally over the past three months, focuses on a key part of the budget process, including how residents can provide input, the General Fund, understanding property taxes, the impact of unfunded mandates, why budgets grow, the purpose of reserve funding, the total budget and the importance of future planning.
“Our residents deserve clear, accessible information about how public dollars are collected and spent,” said Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton. “This guide is meant to give people the context they need to better understand county finances and participate in the budget process.”
For more information, contact Mark Sexton at 352-264-6979 or msexton@alachuacounty.us.
If you have a disability and need an accommodation in order to participate in a County program, service or public meeting, please contact the Alachua County Equal Opportunity Office at 352-374-5275 at least 2 business days prior to the event. TTY users please call 711 (Florida Relay Service).
