Alachua County approves commercial PACE program; residential component approved after split vote

Alachua County commissioners voted to authorize an interlocal agreement enabling a commercial PACE program and later added the residential component after a separate vote.

Supporters said the program helps finance energy and resilience upgrades. County staff presented a draft interlocal and said two providers had signed county documents; one large provider preferred to use its own contract form and remains in negotiation. Heather Swanson of the Gainesville‑Alachua Board of Realtors urged caution: “there is no lender willing to take a back seat to their assessment,” she told the board, warning that secondary tax liens can block refinancing or sale for some homeowners.

Commissioners separated their decisions. The board first approved moving ahead with PACE for commercial properties without objection. On the residential side, commissioners heard a string of public comments recounting lender reluctance, concerns about homeowners’ ability to refinance or sell, and calls for stronger consumer protections and credit screening. After debate and a staff commitment to provide a written summary of outstanding provider‑agreement differences, the board voted to authorize both the commercial program and the residential component, 3–2.

County Attorney’s office noted substantive differences between provider agreements; staff said two providers had accepted county wording and one (Florida PACE Funding Agency) had insisted on its own form. Commissioners asked staff to return with a short timeline and a written memo outlining remaining disputes with the third provider.

The board also asked staff to convene the tax collector and municipal partners quickly to set submission and negotiation timelines for municipal project lists and potential interlocal splits.

Next steps: staff will finalize interlocal documents for signature, continue negotiations with the remaining provider, and deliver a written summary of outstanding contract differences and a project/timeline schedule to the commission.