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 and fund totals the county may levy and spend and trigger statutorily required notices to property owners; they are not final. The board must hold a final public hearing and adopt the final millage and budgets before the levy is certified. Murley said the board is following Florida’s Truth in Millage (TRIM) process and state statutes governing local budget hearings.

Public commenters urged different outcomes. Jay Paul Moore, introduced as a real estate broker and homeowner, urged the board to "reject the proposed increase in the millage rate," saying rising appraised values amount to a "tax on unrealized gain" that harms homeowners on fixed incomes. Sarah Jessica Hernandez, a lifelong Martin County resident, said recent growth should offset county costs and asked commissioners not to raise taxes. Several speakers, including Chuck Wynne and David Britt, used their public-comment time to criticize a proposed Brightline station and related development terms; Wynne said, "Brightline consistently has failed to profitably run its core function of providing rail transportation service," and urged restrictive terms if the county enters any agreement.

Commissioners discussed philosophy and trade-offs at length. Commissioner Vargas repeatedly argued for deeper millage reductions and for placing windfalls into reserves and debt paydown. Commissioner Capps emphasized that the proposed budget lowers millage rates modestly while revenue rises because of value increases and said rising county costs (insurance, electricity, fuel, construction) constrain options. Commissioner Campe and Commissioner Catherington both described the months-long budget process, noted state legal limits on how commissioners may communicate outside public meetings, and defended the budget as prioritizing public safety and addressing infrastructure and reserve needs.

County Administrator Donaldson and staff framed specific budget drivers: increased requests from constitutional officers and judicial offices (about 30 percent of the new ad valorem request), capital-improvement-plan priorities for roads, bridges and public buildings (about $5.1 million of new ad valorem), replenishment and strategic increases to reserves, and costs passed down from the state such as Florida Retirement System contribution-rate increases and health-insurance premium growth. Murley said the tentative budget includes 11 additional BOCC positions and 11.5 position-equivalents for constitutional officers.

Formal actions and votes taken Wednesday included setting the countywide tentative millage rate at 6.5614 (rollback rate 5.9159, stated percentage increase over rollback 10.91) and tentative adoption of numerous fund budgets (the BOCC countywide fund total $318,825,362; fire rescue MSTU $85,521,704; utilities enterprise $124,046,350; solid waste enterprise $48,702,621). Most of those votes passed 4–1 with Commissioner Vargas casting the sole dissent where recorded.

The board emphasized this is a tentative adoption under state TRIM procedures: the figures advertised to property owners are the tentative millage rates and budgets; the board will meet for a final public hearing on Sept. 23 at 5:05 p.m. before adopting final rates and budgets.

For now, the tentative package preserves the county’s stated priorities — public safety, infrastructure maintenance, debt reduction and reserve building — while responding to a significantly larger tax base. Commissioners said residents with questions can meet with the Office of Management and Budget staff, the property appraiser’s office, or use the county CARES orientation series to learn more about how county dollars are spent.

Ending note: Because tentative budgets and millage rates were adopted, property owners will receive final TRIM notices; the board may change the figures at the final hearing, currently scheduled for Sept. 23.