PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
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DISCUSSION REGARDING DRAFT BALLOT TITLE, BALLOT LANGUAGE AND ORDINANCE CALLING FOR REFERENDUM ON A TEN-YEAR HALF-CENT SALES TAX FOR CONSERVATION LANDS
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
This agenda item brings forward a draft ballot title, draft ballot language and a draft ordinance calling for referendum on the question of whether to levy a ten-year one-half percent (one-half cent) local government infrastructure sales surtax to be placed on the November 5, 2024 General Election Ballot.
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DEPARTMENT: County Attorney
PREPARED BY: Name: Sarah W. Woods
Title: County Attorney
REQUESTED BY: Board of County Commissioners and Martin County Forever
PRESET: 10:30 AM
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
Pursuant to Board direction at its September 12, 2023 meeting, County staff has been working with the conservation initiative, Martin County Forever, to draft proposed ballot language and an ordinance calling for a referendum on the question of whether to levy a local government infrastructure sales tax for the acquisition of conservation lands within Martin County.
The draft ballot language and ordinance provide for a referendum regarding a ten-year one-half cent local government surtax. Section 5 of the draft ordinance sets forth the ballot language:
NOVEMBER 5, 2024
OFFICIAL BALLOT
MARTIN COUNTY, FLORIDA
LANDS TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY, NATURAL AREAS AND WILDLIFE HABITAT
ONE-HALF PERCENT SALES SURTAX
SHALL MARTIN COUNTY PROTECT ITS WATER QUALITY AND UNIQUE CHARACTER BY ACQUIRING CRITICAL NATURAL LANDS IN MARTIN COUNTY WITHIN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON SOUTH, PAL-MAR, LOXAHATCHEE AND ST. LUCIE HEADWATERS, BLUEWAYS AREAS AND PROVIDE MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE ALLOWED BY LAW, BY LEVYING A ONE-HALF PERCENT (0.5%) COUNTY SALES TAX FOR 10 YEARS STARTING JANUARY 1, 2025 WITH ANNUAL AUDIT AND CITIZEN OVERSIGHT.
_______________ FOR the one-half percent sales tax
_______________ AGAINS...
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