FEMA is awarding Florida more than $46.4 million for projects that will prevent, eliminate or reduce future disaster-related damage. The efforts will focus on cost-effective residential mitigation projects statewide, including work on 62 homes through elevations, property acquisitions, demolitions and reconstruction of eligible homes.
- The wheels of the bus fall off!
- Commissioner Capps is a frustrated teacher!
- Great job if you can get it!
- Tax rate remains the same, but BOCC gets $41,404,488 more of your tax dollars!
- Do NOT leave lithium batteries on chargers 🧯
- Commissioners need to ask more commonsense questions
- Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s MCSO’s new helicopter!
BEFORE YOU READ ON....ARE YOU AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF MCTA YET? SIGN UP HERE! https://mctaxpayers.org/join-now/
If you go to the Martin County Board of County Commissioners’ website you will see the following message:
MARTY Bus Service Temporarily Suspended
Martin County is aware that its contracted transit service provider has canceled its services effective immediately. As a result, MARTY transit service is currently interrupted. Martin County is actively working to identify solutions to restore transit service as quickly as possible and minimize the impact on our riders. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
MCTA has been complaining that the MARTY system was unsustainable for many years now. Counting trips instead of numbers of riders so that transfers can be counted as more than one trip was misleading methodology. In desperation the rides were made free which failed to solve the problem. United Way has a good system. MCTA recommends that the County agree to cooperate with United Way to supply those needing public transportation.
Included in the most important news of September (at least to MCTA) is that our millage rate was set. The MCTA made a plea for the roll-back rate which has not been adopted since 2013. It’s an important concept. It means that the ad valorem rate will be “rolled back” so that the County will take in NO MORE tax revenue than what it took in last year (or to whenever they roll it back). So, even if your home’s value increased you would likely not pay more in taxes. Versus a “flat” rate which allows the Commission to brag that they are not increasing your rate, but which very well may still result in your paying more in taxes if your home’s value has increased. The Commission was not at all inclined to adopt the roll back rate. If you wish to see MCTA’s plea go here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_COJUfBjDts&t=5s You may have to scroll to 24:45/1:27:53 in order to see very well thought out reasoning by member Richard Geisinger and followed by Executive Director Darlene VanRiper. Please send your comments to us at mctaxpayers1950@gmail.com. Our opinion is that the Commission wants to grab as much as they can in case Amendment 3 passes in November. Commissioner Capps continues to minimize the 2027 budget increase saying that the millage rate isn’t being raised. That is true, but it is not the entire story. Because property values have increased, the county will garner an additional $41,404,488 in tax revenue. So, he really cannot say taxes haven’t increased. He also claims that the county is growing. We assume he means population. But the county has not grown more than 2.1% each year since 1996. And usually closer to 1%. He also reminds the public that the County is only hiring 2 more employees. Ok. 🤷♂️
In another vein, kudos to the pedagogical Commissioner Capps who expressed a desire to impart additional knowledge to the public by including more information on the yellow development signs noting how projects are approved. Key phrases such as “COMP plan amendment”, “major or minor final site plan”, “state mandated, administratively approved Live Local project” . MCTA applauds the Commissioners’ efforts to educate the public. 👏 The Commissioners do NOT approve all projects and can NOT stop all development. The vote was supported by all five.
However, we must express disapproval over the histrionics which seem to have seized Commissioner Capps over his fear of data centers. One must not allow every decision to be influenced by the boogie man. Especially since the Commissioners have NOT yet voted on a moratorium and not all facts have been assessed. Presuming that a change in zoning WILL culminate in the building of a data center could lead to a walk to the courthouse. Let’s everyone take a deep breath and listen to the facts.
Kudos also to Commissioner Heard for pulling an item from the list of grants which are rarely questioned. A grant for the beautification of the SW Kanner Hwy and I-95 interchange would have cost the County $42,716 (on top of a $100,000 grant) and maintenance at $35,000/yr in perpetuity. Chair Heard separated it from the pack and motioned to deny. The vote was unanimous. MCTA feels that a grant item of $8,000 for an intern in risk management should also have been questioned further. The 1 student would have to work a minimum of 8 weeks. True, there was no County match of the funds, but nonetheless this seems like a lot to pay an intern. MCTA wishes the consequential costs of more projects would be questioned.
🔥🔥Fire/Rescue made a statement on behalf of Fire Prevention month. Do NOT leave lithium-ion batteries on chargers. It seems reasonable to leave golf carts and power tools continually charging, but these are the two most frequent causes of battery fires. Especially using generic chargers. Use the charger meant for the item. Finally, be aware of flammable items near active chargers. Charging throws off heat which could cause an item touching to ignite.
Commissioner Ciampi has visited Vero to see their Dignity Bus. These are used motor coaches built out to service the homeless. As he commented there are a “tremendous number of wrap around service such as pet accommodations, eating and showering. The service in Vero is funded by a non-profit organization. If this comes to pass in Martin County, MCTA hopes a non-profit will step up and NOT be funded by taxpayers.
Fire/Rescue received authorization for $7,034,694 (not to exceed) to purchase 4 engines, 1 rescue squad/engine and 5 rescue/ambulances. The loan terms are over 7 years at 3.99%. It is to be repaid with ambulance fees and public emergency medical transportation reimbursement fees from Medicaid. When questioned by Chair Heard, Matt Resch, the fire/rescue finance administrator, explained that those fees have been very consistent over 20 years. Some questions MCTA would have asked are how many of the current vehicles are over 15 years old which is the average life span according to the Fire Chief? Do we need to order them all at once? Commissioner Vargas suggested staggering the orders. The response was that they take 4 years to build and the cost has increased by 63 – 80%. The Commissioners really do not know what questions to ask this highly specialized organization. They must simply take the Chief and his staff’s word. This is why MCTA has been asking for an independent efficiency audit of Fire/Rescue. We do not doubt that the Chief wants the best for his role in public safety but perhaps a qualified independent agency could spot some possible savings. The Fire/Rescue budget stands at $77,582,688. Commissioner Vargas made a substitute motion to deny and take another look at their budget. But, it’s too late. The time to address cutting budgets is in the spring when the Capital Improvement Plans are being put together by the department heads and presented to the County Administrator. She could attend those meetings. She was a first-year commissioner and perhaps didn’t realize that. Hopefully, she will be diligent next spring. Commissioner Vargas seems adamant about budget cuts. So much so that she voted against most of the budget which was passed by the other 4 commissioners. It was puzzling to the MCTA that she even voted against the airport’s budget which is an enterprise fund, meaning that they take no tax dollars. In fact, they took in $1,023,658 in excess fees which they turned over to the County. Perhaps it was simply a protest vote.
MCTA needs volunteers. We are currently interested in speaking with retirees from the school system. Any school system. You don't have to be retired from Martin County. Call Darlene at 772-285-7447 today!
Does your HOA, civic club, private club need a speaker? MCTA has speakers available at no charge. We've even spoken at parties in private homes. We do not charge and guests leave informed and often astounded. Call 772-285-7447 to reserve a speaker.
GRANTS, contributions, miscellaneous proceeds
*MCTA calculates this as best as we can and it may not be 100% accurate.
Sept. 15th meeting
Applied for $808,000 with a County match of $800,000
Accepted for $537,607 with a County match of $398,450
These include applications for $8,000 for the intern referred to above with 0 county match; $800,000 for septic to sewer with an $800,000 county match and acceptance of already applied for grants such as $193,644 to provide housing rental assistance for disabled persons who are chronically homeless; approximately $291,768 (which was last year’s allocation according to Beth Beltran, Administrator of Martin County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization) with a county match of $29,168 PLUS an “overmatch” of $369,282. According to Ms. Beltran, the overmatch is necessary because the Governor vetoed a program which otherwise would have supplied this money. This was an emergency situation presented to the BOCC last year and it looks like it will be a continuing funding issue each year. According to Ms. Beltran, the County provided 30,922 trips to the transportation disadvantaged last year. Trips provided going forward will be reduced to medical only due to limited funding. There was another amount of $26,975 from the state for transportation for the disabled accepted as a budget resolution. Accepted was $6,305 which is a quarterly amount received from Florida’s Department of Health Emergency Medical Services Trust to enhance County efforts in this area.
Continuing Agreements/contracts
Approved a continuing service agreement contract for yard trash processing, transport and management for not more than $25,500,000 for not more than 9 years. It’s important to keep the fact that excessive debris from hurricanes is considered in this equation. It would have been interesting to know if this went up from the last contract and if so by how much. A commissioner could have asked this commonsense question.
GRANTS, contributions, miscellaneous proceeds
*MCTA calculates this as best as we can. It may not be 100% accurate.
Sept. 29th meeting
Accepted $23,973,392 with a County match of $953,298
Applied for $209,146 with 0 County match
These include an application for state aid to libraries in the amount of $85,005 with 0 county match. An application for “wealth advancement for historically disadvantaged neighborhoods and low-income families…an actionable blueprint outlining financial empowerment strategies such as financial education/counseling, asset building, access to banking, and /or consumer protection. Funds will also be used to help broaden system investments to further equitable financial stability for $100,000 with 0 county match. WHAT? The Commissioners should have pulled this one out of the bunch and asked some questions. If anyone can tell us what this program description actually means, please email us at mctaxpayers.org. The USA is partially so indebted because state and federal tax dollars are somehow not thought of as TAX DOLLARS. The attitude that “someone is going to receive the money, why not us?” is only worsening the problem. An application was approved for $24,141 from the Bureau of Justice Assistance to enhance traffic enforcement. FDOT will give the County $67,200 for vehicle gate and security improvements at the airport. A $16,800 match is required. But, again the airport is an enterprise zone so the match won’t cost the taxpayer. $3,680,000 will be accepted to replace the pavement and lighting on a runway with a $920,000 match. $10,000 was accepted to access an airport parcel once used for the public works to change it to aeronautical required by the FAA. Sixty shade hangers are proposed with a $2,500 match. The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) gave the County $55,995 as reimbursement for the removal of derelict boats. The County picks up 25% of the cost. (SEE FIND’s ARTICLE BELOW…they tax you too).
Adjustments to the 2026 budget were made to accept FPL’s Care to Share Program funds of $12,084 towards electric bill assistance to eligible households. The development of Paradise Lake on Bridge Road in Hobe Sound agreed to pay the county $50,630 in lieu of constructing a sidewalk. Kudos to Chair Heard for questioning this. MCTA could tell she was going to inquire as to whether a sidewalk was needed there, but her question was anticipated and answered by staff… “it’s a very rural area”. This is what MCTA is hoping for…more common-sense questions asked by commissioners. Insurance dollars of $58,571 were accepted from damages to park fences. The sheriff’s office ordered a new helicopter. The purchase had been approved back in 2025. They’ve been saving and have accumulated $1.6 million. The down payment of $894,178 had already been made. The balance of $705,827 has now been requested. County Administrator Don Donaldson explained that the Commissioners approved the helicopter in the Sheriff’s budget as a whole because they don’t have line-item veto over the sheriff’s budget. Perhaps they should, although Counties that have rejected their sheriff’s budgets in the past have experienced their sheriff appealing to the Governor’s Cabinet who always side with the sheriff. The County’s health insurance is expected to exceed budgeted revenue by $1,600,000 making a budget resolution necessary to appropriate the additional reserves. Questioned by Chair Heard. An unanticipated reimbursement from FDOT in the amount of $50,996 resulting from a 3rd party damaging a traffic signal cabinet was allocated. The Martin County library system exceeded revenue expectations by $18,638 so that amount was allocated into the 2026 budget! Way to go Jen!
Continuing Agreements/Contracts
Some of Port Salerno’s roads are getting resurfaced! The roadway restoration project will cost
$1,134,995.
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https://mctaxpayers.org/donate/
Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND)
About FIND…
The Florida Inland Navigation District is a special state taxing district responsible for managing and maintaining the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, a crucial maritime route extending from Miami to the Florida-Georgia border. FIND’s mission is to ensure the waterway’s navigability, safety, and public accessibility for commercial and recreational use, contributing to Florida’s economic growth and coastal resilience.
For more information about FIND's Assistance Programs and future funding opportunities, please visit www.AICW.org.
FIND Announces 2026-2027 Assistance Grant Award Winners
The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026-2027 Assistance Program grants. At the recent Final Tax Hearing, the FIND Board approved funding for 64 projects, effective October 1, 2026, underscoring its dedication to enhancing Florida's boating infrastructure and bolstering the economic benefits to the state’s marine industries.
Out of an original pool of 78 applications received in March, 64 projects were selected based on their potential to significantly benefit the public and support the growth and maintenance of Florida's waterways.
The awarded projects cover a variety of initiatives, including the construction of new boat ramps, improvements to waterway safety, and the development of programs aimed at promoting responsible boating and maximizing the economic benefits of marine activities to local communities.
"The Florida Inland Navigation District is proud to support these outstanding projects through our 2026-2027 Waterway Assistance Program grants. Each award represents a meaningful investment in expanding and improving public access to Florida’s Intracoastal Waterway. These projects will provide opportunities for boating, fishing, recreation, and community connection, ensuring that residents and visitors alike can enjoy and benefit from this vital waterway for years to come.” – Janet Zimmerman, Executive Director, Florida Inland Navigation District
A full list of the 2026-2027 Assistance Program grant recipients and their funded projects can be found on the FIND website at www.AICW.org.
Children’s Services Council of Martin County (CSC)
B.L.A.S.T. Program Provides Enrichment to Banner Lake’s Kids
By Laura Haase
Executive Director
As the agency tasked with administering a small portion of property taxes for children and family programs, the Children’s Services Council of Martin County is very strategic in the programs it decides to fund. The Banner Lake After-School Time initiative (B.L.A.S.T.) is a great example of effective preventive programming.
B.L.A.S.T. provides enriching out-of-school activities that help children and teenagers build academic and social-emotional skills. It also gives them a safe, structured place to go after school and during the summer.
Operating out of the Banner Lake Community Center in Hobe Sound, B.L.A.S.T. is contracted to serve 150 children and teens in 2026–27. The Children’s Services Council is investing $275,600 in the program, alongside $706,299 from other funding sources. This partnership benefits families in Hobe Sound and the broader Martin County community.
B.L.A.S.T. kids participate in book clubs, sports, gardening, arts classes, tutoring, and mentoring opportunities. During the summer, reading and academic support help prevent the “summer slide” so students start the new school year on track academically.
For working parents, dependable after-school and summer programming can mean being able to keep a job. For children, it means spending those hours in a safe place with caring adults and constructive activities. That is especially important on school days, when juvenile crime tends to peak in the hours after school.
There is a longer-term reason for taxpayers to care as well. Helping children stay engaged in school supports their path toward graduation. Adults with a high school diploma are more likely to be employed and, on average, earn more than those without one. B.L.A.S.T. is one part of giving children that support while meeting an immediate need for their families.
B.L.A.S.T. is run by the Banner Lake Club, which was established in 1939 and in recent years merged with The Dunbar Center. Today, the organization brings together dedicated and trained staff to serve local families.
To learn more about the agencies and programs funded with local property taxes, visit cscmc.org.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS NEWSLETTER TO ANYONE YOU THINK MIGHT WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS HERE IN MARTIN COUNTY. |
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