The City of Gainesville and Alachua County governments merged in 2006, so that the Metro government structure consists of a single governing entity covering all of Alachua County�s urban and rural areas with the exception of the Cities of Alachua and High Springs, who opted to remain autonomous. However, these two cities contract with Metro government for many of its services, including the sheriff, fire and rescue services. This greatly simplifies the legislative process, prevents fiscal crisis brought about by past annexations and ensures Alachua/Gainesville's pro-neighborhood environment for the long-term.

Metro government operates under a Manager form of government, with a Mayor (Chairman of the Council) and an elected Council serving as the legislative branch. The Council consists of both the existing City of Gainesville Commission and an expanded (now 7 members) Alachua County Commission. The City of Gainesville Commission (7 members) is now elected to represent geographical districts within the greater urban area; the Alachua County Commission (now 7 members) is elected at-large to represent the entire county. The Mayor of this Metro Government is also elected at-large.

The Mayor and Council members are elected to three-year terms and are limited by law to two consecutive terms. Five members (the Mayor and four at-large Council members) are also elected (to concurrent three-year terms) to act as the Alachua County School Board. All Council members serve staggered terms so that the Community elects five (5) Council members each year.

During any three year rotation, The Mayor, two (2) District and two (2) at-large Council members are elected the first year; three (3) District and two (2) at-large Council members are elected the second year;and two (2) District and three (3) At-large Council members in the third and final year of the rotation. This insures that both the Metro Council and (those Metro Council members elected to and acting as) the Alachua County School Board have a continuity of a majority in any given year. It also allows any citizen the opportunity to vote on the majority (7 at-large and 1 district) of the Metro Council or the School Board.

This unified 15 member Council also serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization. This insures that all facets of life, dealing with schools, roads, parks, transportation, planning and the environment are wholly and comprehensively represented by the same group of elected officials. Under the old system the Alachua County Commission , the City of Gainesville Commission and the Alachua County School Board had a total of 17 elected officials.

The Florida Constitution also requires the election of the following officers serving Alachua County: Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections and Tax Collector. Furthermore, the Clerk of Courts, State Attorney and Circuit and County Judges are elected for the Eight Judicial Circuit.

The Sheriff is the head of the Metro Sheriff's Office (MSO), the sole police department for all the urban/rural areas. The existing municipal police chiefs and their respective departments now report to the Sheriff, however the sheriff's annual budget must be approved by the Metro Council.

The City Manager, who is appointed by a majority of the City Council, is responsible for the administration of the central government, which includes 10 departments. Each of those departments is headed by a director and are composed of divisions headed by chiefs. The City Manager appoints the department directors and division chiefs, but those appointments must be confirmed by the City Council.

The City Council has Home Rule authority to enact legislation in order to provide for the needs of the city. The Council has full authority over the budgets, boards and independent agencies of the city. The Council meets at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the new Metro Council Chambers (the old City of Gainesville Library building).