(The Center Square) – Gainesville city voters have once again voted to take control of a local utility authority appointed by the governor.
More than 75% of voters Tuesday voted in favor of an amendment retaking control of Gainesville Regional Utilities, according to unofficial results.
A judge previously ruled that a similar ballot measure in 2024 included misleading ballot language, prompting Tuesday’s vote.
Gainesville Regional, the fifth largest utility in Florida owned by a city, provides electricity, natural gas and water service.
CEO Ed Bielarski said Wednesday morning that until its governing board receives a court order or the 2023 legislation creating the authority is repealed, Tuesday’s vote “has no legal consequences.”
“Until then, the board will continue its responsible governance of GRU and I will continue as CEO,” Bielarski said in a statement.
Since the state appointed authority took over management from the city in 2023, the average monthly electric bill has dropped from $156 to $137 and the utility has paid $177 million in debt, Bielarski said.
However, Gainesville City Commissioner Bryan Eastman said a drop in natural gas prices has been the main factor in lower rates.
“Natural gas prices dropped, so rates went down,” Eastman said on social media. “That’s it.”
When the state takeover occurred, citizens were told the utility was on the brink of bankruptcy, and plagued by corruption and misuse of funds, the commissioner wrote.
“We were told that drastic change was needed, that Tallahassee had to step in and save us,” Eastman wrote. “Where’s the corruption? Where are the bold plans? Instead, what we’ve gotten is a CEO with a $342k salary, running a utility driven to its lowest staffing level in 15 years.”
