Martin County tentatively adopts FY26 budget, lowers millage rate but approves larger overall levy; votes 4-1

Martin County commissioners on Wednesday held the first public hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget and tentatively adopted a package of millage rates and associated fund budgets that reduce the countywide millage rate but allow higher property-tax revenue this year.

Stephanie Murley, director of the Office of Management and Budget for Martin County, told the board the county’s taxable value rose about 12.88 percent and that if last year’s millage stayed constant the new ad valorem levy would generate roughly $40.2 million; the budgeted ad valorem need, she said, is about $38.1 million, which produced a modest reduction in the millage rate. "The countywide being proposed at 6.5614," Murley said, adding the total combined millage rate fell from 9.9897 to 9.9185.

The board approved the tentative countywide millage resolution by unanimous voice vote, then approved the tentative countywide fund budget totaling $318,825,362 on a 4–1 roll-call vote with Commissioner Vargas dissenting. Multiple other taxing authorities and enterprise budgets were approved in a series of motions that mostly passed 4–1 with Vargas dissenting, including fire rescue, parks and recreation MSTUs, utilities enterprise and solid waste.

Why it matters: The tentative decisions set the maximum rates…