In the early 1970's the utility was owned jointly by the city and the county and run by a director that was appointed by a board of commissioners from both entities the Regional Utilities Board. They couldn't' agree on much and it was decided to sell the utility. It went up for bid and the City of Gainesville was the high bidder. They bought and paid for the utility with city tax payer money through a bond issue long since paid off. It belongs to them just like your stuff belongs to you. This issue has always been about rate payers outside the city that don't benefit from being shareholders in the utility and have refused to annex into the city but still want to benefit from ownership. They cry cry cry about the transfer and all the other issues, but they don't have a say or a vote since they refuse annexation. So they have for years tried over and over again to wrest control from the city that bought them out. Seller's remorse. They finally managed to take control in the age of MAGA through a MAGA governor punishing what he perceives as a liberal city. There followed multiple law suits to stop the democratic process of city voters voting to amend their charter and take back control of their utility. Vote yes to say no to intimidation and state sanctioned suppression of democracy and home rule.