Extension of the Wild Spaces & Public Places Program will be on the Alachua County ballot Nov. 8.
A Community Engagement Series begins March 29th
On Nov. 8, Alachua County will vote on the extension of the Wild Spaces & Public Places initiative through 2032. The first of a series of community engagement meetings regarding the Wild Spaces & Public Places & Infrastructure Surtax begins March 29.
This is your chance to learn more about the current Wild Spaces & Public Places program and provide input for the future of the program.
Want to know more about the
Wild Spaces & Public Places Program?
Distribution of Wild Spaces & Public Places
Sales Tax Dollars
The State of Florida disburses the Wild Spaces & Public Places sales tax revenue to Alachua County and the nine incorporated municipalitieswithin the county based on population:
The City of Gainesville receives 35.78% of the sales tax collected. The City focuses its efforts on improvements and renovations to existing parks and facilities with a few signature projects.
Alachua County receives 57.17% of the sales tax collected. Of the Alachua County revenue, 90% of the revenue goes toward conservation lands and 10% goes toward active parks.
The remaining 7.05% of the sales tax collected is distributed amongst the 8 smaller municipalities within the county.
Making a Local Impact
The eight-year sales tax is being collected from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2024 with 75% of the City of Gainesville's WSPP expenditures being kept local and over 50% of the vendors hired being small businesses.
Highlighted City of Gainesville projects worked on or completed since 2018
The half-cent sales tax is used to acquire and improve environmentally sensitive lands and to create, improve and maintain parks and recreational facilities throughout Alachua County.
The eight-year sales tax was approved by Alachua County voters in 2016 and is being collected from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2024.
For more information on the City of Gainesville’s Wild Spaces & Public Places program, contact Betsy Waite, Director of Wild Spaces & Public Places, at
