CRA recommends FY 2026 tentative operating budget to County Commission; no new staff requested

The Martin County Community Redevelopment Agency voted to recommend its tentative FY 2026 operating budget to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration during the county’s July budget workshops.

Shelby Baker of the Office of Management and Budget and Susan Korres of the Office of Community Development presented the CRA’s FY 2026 tentative operating budget. Korres said the budget shows an increase of about $40,000 from the prior year driven by salary and fringe increases tied to previously adopted pay adjustments. “We’re 40% I mean, $40,000 higher than we were last year, and that’s due to the 6% increase in salaries that was, voted in 2022,” Korres said.

Korres and Baker told the board the agency did a reallocation of existing line items to reflect actual expenditures rather than adding new spending. “We didn’t increase the budget by any means, but we reshuffle funds to actually be budgeting for the actual,” Korres said. Board members confirmed the CRA is not requesting new staff; Korres said six positions are included in the salaries line.

After a brief public-check for comments, an unnamed CRA board member moved to recommend the tentative operating budget to the Board of County Commissioners; another board member seconded the motion. The motion passed on a voice vote with members responding “Aye.” The CRA did not appropriate additional funds at the meeting; the action forwards the tentative budget for county budget workshops in July.

Clarifying details provided in the presentation showed several reallocated line items (communications, data/wireless) and that the CRA’s operating costs aside from salaries and fringe remain essentially flat. The CRA’s Office of Community Development staff said they highlighted line-item changes in the budget packet for board review.