PLACEMENT: Departmental
TITLE:
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ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS ACQUISITION PROGRAM: APPROVAL OF PROPERTIES RECOMMENDED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (ELOC) AS 2024 SALES TAX PROGRAM ACQUISITIONS
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
executive summary
In November 2024, voters of Martin County approved a referendum authorizing the collection of a 0.5% sales tax to fund acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands. On September 5, 2025, the Environmental Lands Oversight Committee (ELOC), a nine-member BOCC-appointed citizen advisory group, developed a ranked list and recommended approval to acquire 16 properties. This item seeks initial authorization to use sales tax funds for the acquisition of these properties. Three of the properties would be for the acquisition of conservation easements. Before final acquisition, separate Board action will be required to complete these acquisitions.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PREPARED BY: Name: Michael Yustin
Title: Senior Project Manager
REQUESTED BY: Board of County Commissioners
PRESET:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
On February 20, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) voted to place a referendum on the 2024 general election ballot for the purpose of leveraging a 10-year .5% sales tax to acquire environmentally sensitive lands. The anticipated total revenue from this tax is approximately $220 million, and approximately $12 million has been collected to date. The collected funds are designated solely for land acquisition within four designated project areas: IRL South, Pal Mar, Loxa-Lucie, and the Blueways. Concurrently, Ordinance #1221 was adopted to establish the framework for this land acquisition program. In November 2024, the voters of Martin County passed the referendum. The Board then appointed a 9-member Environmental Lands Oversight Committee (ELOC) to review, evaluate and provide recommendations for environmentally sensitive lands that have been nominated for acquisition as a part of the 2024 Sales Tax Referendum. The Board also approved an Environmental Lands Oversight Committee Manual to outline the process by which lands are nominated, ranked, and recommended for acquisition.
On September 5, 2025, the Environmental Lands Oversight Committee (ELOC), a nine member BOCC appointed citizen advisory board, developed a ranked list and recommended approval of acquisition of 16 properties. This item seeks initial BOCC authorization to use sales tax funds for the acquisition of these properties. It is important to note that three of the recommended properties would be for the acquisition of conservation easements. Before final acquisition, separate Board action will be required to approve each transaction.
ISSUES:
None
LEGAL SUFFICIENCY REVIEW:
This item has been reviewed for legal sufficiency to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law, and legal staff has identified and addressed legal risks and developed strategies for legal defensibility, as applicable.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECOMMENDATION
Move that the Board approve the use of funds generated from the 2024 Sales Tax Referendum to acquire fee simple title or conservation easements on the 16 properties recommended by the ELOC at their September 5, 2025 meeting.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
Provide staff with additional guidance or alternate direction.
FISCAL IMPACT:
RECOMMENDATION
We will not have this figure until appraisals and negotiations with landowners has been completed.
ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
None
DOCUMENT(S) REQUIRING ACTION:
☐Budget Transfer / Amendment ☐ Chair Letter ☐Contract / Agreement
☐Grant / Application ☐Notice ☐Ordinance ☐Resolution
☐Other:
This document may be reproduced upon request in an alternative format by contacting the County ADA Coordinator (772) 320-3131, the County Administration Office (772) 288-5400, Florida Relay 711, or by completing our accessibility feedback form at www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback <http://www.martin.fl.us/accessibility-feedback>.