WUFT News News and Public Media for North Central Florida from the University of Florida in Gainesville
Sales tax will be 1 percent higher at Gainesville’s newest shopping center.
Stores set to open in Celebration Pointe will charge 7.5 percent in sales tax, 6.5 being the local sales tax and the additional 1 percent going towards a public user fee and community improvements.
The fee was approved by Alachua County in 2012, but the effects are just now being seen at the Bass Pro Shops, one of the shopping center’s first stores.
Additionally, some of the money has gone to construction of the bridge over I-75 which links Butler Plaza to Celebration Pointe.
Sean McIntosh, senior vice president of asset management for Celebration Pointe, said that the higher tax will also fund a south entrance to the shopping center from Archer Road.
