The Martin County Board of County Commissioners adopted its FY2026 final budget and associated millage rates after a public hearing and staff presentation by the Office of Management and Budget. The countywide fund total was stated as $318,825,362 and the board set the countywide millage for the Board of County Commissioners taxing authority at a final rate of 6.5614.

"I cannot support this budget in its entirety," Commissioner Vargas said during the meeting, stating a desire for greater fiscal prudence. Vargas reiterated that position after multiple roll‑call votes in which she recorded a dissent.

OMB Director Stephanie Murley presented the final budget as part of the Truth in Millage (TRIM) process and recited required disclosures about rollback rates, ad valorem impacts and funding priorities. Murley told the board the budget reflected a reduction in combined millage from the previous year and included funding for capital improvements, reserves to meet the county's 10% reserve policy and additions of staff positions across departments.

Commissioners who supported the budget said they were comfortable with the work of staff and the budget process. Commissioner Campe (Campy) and others praised the budget office and emphasized the county’s strong reserves and bond ratings.

Votes at a glance (selected items from the hearing):

- Adopt final millage, Board of County Commissioners (countywide): rollback rate 5.9159; final millage 6.5614. Motion passes 4–1 (Commissioner Vargas dissenting).

- Adopt final budget, Board of County Commissioners (countywide fund total): $318,825,362. Motion passes 4–1 (Commissioner Vargas dissenting).

- District 1 MSTU: Final millage 0.0666; final budget $372,909. Motion passes unanimously.

- District 2 MSTU: Final millage 0.0742; fund total $215,000 (motion recorded as passing 4–1 with Commissioner Vargas dissenting for related budget action).

- District 3 MSTU final budget: $324,881. Motion passes 4–1 (Commissioner Vargas dissenting).

- District 4 MSTU final millage 0.0478; budget $214,390. Motion passes unanimously.

- District 5 MSTU final millage 0.0671; budget $370,000. Motion passes unanimously.

- Special District A61 Hutchinson Island MSTU: final millage 0.1799; fund total $422,100. Motion passes 4–1 (Commissioner Vargas dissenting).

- Fire Rescue MSTU (unincorporated): final millage 2.6376; fund total $85,521,704. Motion passes 4–1 (Commissioner Vargas dissenting).

- MSTU Parks and Recreation: final millage 0.1474; fund total $4,365,644. Motion passes 4–1 (Commissioner Vargas dissenting).

- Countywide MSTU unincorporated stormwater and main road maintenance: final millage 0.5722; fund total $15,304,114. Motion passes 4–1 (Commissioner Vargas dissenting).

- General unincorporated fund: fund total $8,131,820. Motion passes unanimously.

- Building and Permitting fund: total $11,400,751. Motion passes unanimously.

- Impact Fees fund: total $4,963,984. Motion passes unanimously.

- Special revenue funds: total $32,026,409. Motion passes unanimously.

- Grants fund: total $2,396,033. Motion passes unanimously.

- Other debt service: $8,324,667. Motion passes unanimously.

- Other capital projects: $34,021,127. Motion passes unanimously.

- Utilities enterprise: $124,046,350. Motion passes unanimously.

- Solid Waste enterprise: $48,702,621. Motion passes unanimously.

- Airport enterprise: $3,032,863. Motion passes unanimously.

- Golf course enterprise: $3,798,000. Motion passes unanimously.

- Internal service funds: $46,428,736. Motion passes unanimously.

- Trust fund: $80,000. Motion passes unanimously.

- Community Redevelopment Area Trust: $9,903,972. Motion passes unanimously. The board concluded the final public hearing after the votes.

Context and key details: Murley said the total new ad valorem that would have been generated if millage remained constant was approximately $40.2 million, while the county’s actual ad valorem need based on budgeted expenditures was approximately $38.1 million. The presentation noted the taxable base increased about 12.88%, that the capital improvement plan added about $5.1 million in ad valorem funds for public buildings, roads and stormwater, and that the FY2026 budget included 11 additional positions for the BOCC and 11.5 positions for constitutional officers collectively.

Commissioner Vargas said she favored greater restraint: "We should be less liberal and more prudent with our spending," she said, repeating earlier comments that led to her recorded dissents. Supporters of the adopted budget cited strong reserves, low debt and favorable bond ratings when explaining their votes.

OMB staff and the county administrator thanked department directors and budget staff; staff said work on the next budget cycle begins soon.