CS/HB 759 Summary

• Creates the Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority as an independent governing board to manage all utility systems owned by the City of Gainesville, replacing the previous general manager structure.

• Authority comprises 5 members appointed by the City Commission, who must be GRU customers with diverse backgrounds and expertise in fields such as law, economics, accounting, engineering, or finance.

• Authority has powers to manage utilities, establish rates and fees, acquire property, issue revenue bonds, prepare annual budgets, and appoint a chief executive officer/general manager.

• All existing city ordinances, policies, and rates remain in effect until the authority modifies them; authority must submit annual budgets 4 months before fiscal year and submit an Annual Customer Report comparing rates with peer utilities.

• Effective only upon approval by majority vote in a referendum held in conjunction with Gainesville's November 2018 general election; initial authority members assume office October 1, 2019.