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 nominate...
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