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Martin County readies conservation purchases after voter-approved sales tax
Summary
County staff said they are lining up multiple land acquisitions using newly collected ‘Martin County Forever’ sales tax revenue, including a proposed $5 million county match toward a 2,000‑acre conservation easement near the C‑44 Reservoir.
Martin County officials told a joint meeting in July 2025 that new local sales tax revenue is enabling plans for multiple conservation land purchases and partnerships with state programs. John Mayall, the county’s environmental resource administrator, said collections began in January and “I believe we’re in the ballpark of $7,000,000,” money that will be used to match state and other funding for land protection.
The county has created an environmental lands oversight committee composed of nine citizens to review potential purchases and confirm they meet the referendum’s restrictions. Mayall said staff will send candidate properties to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory for ecological scoring before presenting them to the board for approval and to begin due diligence.
Mayall identified two early properties already moved forward for scoring, including a roughly 2,000‑acre working ranch near the C‑44 Reservoir. “We have committed, well, what we’re proposing to commit is $5,000,000 from the sales tax to match maybe 12 to 13,000,000 in state funds to get that acquired,” he said, describing the proposed outcome as a conservation easement.
He also described the county’s ongoing coordination with state programs. Mayall said the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Florida Forever program is leading on some acquisitions and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has a comparatively new agricultural‑easement program that buys development rights while allowing working ranch operations to continue. As an example of state partnership, he said the state closed on a $52,000,000 agricultural easement for Bull Hammock Ranch in western Martin County after the referendum passed.
The county will present about 16 acquisition opportunities to the oversight committee at a scheduled meeting on Sept. 5, Mayall said, and said multiple partner agencies — including the South Florida Water Management District and state programs — are involved in transaction planning.
Discussion only: Mayall framed the program as an active acquisition pipeline that still requires board approvals, state funding matches and typical due diligence steps. He repeatedly described next steps as scoring, board review and negotiation rather than completed purchases. The oversight committee will rank candidates and staff will request board authorization before spending sales tax funds.
Why it matters: The county’s approach ties local voter‑approved revenue to larger state programs and could protect substantial acreage, while leveraging state funds and agricultural‑easement tools to retain working landscapes.
Board next steps: Mayall said staff will bring scored properties to the board for authorization to begin due diligence and negotiations; the oversight committee meets Sept. 5 to consider 16 opportunities.
Ending: For residents interested in following the program, Mayall pointed to the oversight committee meeting scheduled for Sept. 5 in the Commission Chambers. He encouraged public attendance for a full briefing on properties under consideration.
