The Martin County School Board on Tuesday authorized staff to advertise the tentative 2025–26 budget and millage rates in the TC Palm newspaper, fulfilling a requirement of Florida Statute 200 and scheduling the first public hearing for Aug. 5.

The action gives staff permission to publish the district's tentative millage rates and budget figures in a newspaper of general circulation, as required under the TRIM (Truth in Millage) process. Carter, a staff member, told the board the advertisement would run in the TC Palm this Friday and that the board's first public hearing on the budget and millage rates is set for Tuesday, Aug. 5.

Board chair called for a motion; Miss Roberts, a school board member, moved approval and Dr. Moriarty, a school board member, seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

Why it matters: Advertising the tentative millage and budget begins the statutorily required public-notice process that leads to at least one public hearing where taxpayers can comment on proposed property-tax rates and spending. The board will return on Aug. 5 for that hearing.

Details: The staff presentation cited Florida Statute 200 as the legal basis for the notice requirement and specified the TC Palm as the chosen newspaper of general circulation for the district's notice. The board did not vote on specific millage rates or final budget figures at this meeting; the vote only authorized the advertisement and set the public-hearing date.

No dollar amounts, proposed millage rates, or line-item budget details were provided during the motion; those figures will be available in the advertised notice and at the Aug. 5 hearing.