PLACEMENT: Public Hearings
TITLE:
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PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF AN 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 ordinance calling for a referendum on the question of whether to levy a ten-year one-half percent (one-half cent) local government infrastructure sales surtax for the acquisition of conservation lands 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:
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
A. Ordinance
Pursuant to Board direction at its February 20, 2024 meeting, County staff in coordination with the conservation initiative, Martin County Forever, has prepared 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
_______________ AGAINST the one-half percent sales tax
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