Sales-tax increase in Martin County would help buy sensitive conservation lands

By: Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers, February 20, 2024

MARTIN COUNTY — An environmental group wants to protect 45,700 acres of environmentally sensitive land and waterfront and wants the sales tax increased by a half-percent to help the county pay for it.

The tax hike would raise about $180 million over 10 years.

County commissioners Tuesday voted 4-0 — with Chair Harold Jenkins absent — to let voters decide at the Nov. 5 general election whether to increase the sales tax to raise $18.3 million a year to conserve properties identified in four designate areas of the county. Martin County's current 6½% sales tax would increase to 7% for 10 years beginning Jan. 1.

The land-purchase program, including the tax hike, was presented to the county by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

The issue is more than growth or no-growth, Martin County Forever co-leader Merritt Matheson argued Monday.

"It's a quality-of-life issue," he stressed to commissioners. Matheson is a former Stuart city commissioner and mayor who championed environmental issues while in office.

Benefits of conservation

Buying land and lagoon areas to preserve it would benefit the county in many ways, Matheson said. It could raise property values, generate hundreds of thousands of dollars for the county economy, lessen runoff into rivers and improve the quality of drinking water.

The total 47,000 acres is expected to cost more than the sales tax would generate over 10 years, but the tax could be renewed. Martin County Forever is encouraging the county to borrow about $144 million up-front to buy properties if voters approve the tax. That money then would be repaid with the new tax revenues.

Borrowing is the most cost-effective way to purchase the properties, Martin County Forever co-leader James Snedeker said. It would allow land and waterfront purchases quickly, avoiding future prices increases.

The County Commission chambers was filled with supporters of putting the tax on the ballot. The audience applauded frequently when anyone spoke in favor of letting voters decide.

Stuart resident Craig Coy was one who wants land purchased for conservation.

"Martin County is a beautiful place to live," he said. "In my view it's almost the Central Park of the Treasure Coast. It's the lungs and kidneys of the Treasure Coast, and I am hoping we can keep it that way."

Land for purchase

The four regions identified for purchases include property in the Blueways Program, which are undeveloped parcels along the waterfront; Indian River Lagoon South; Pal-Mar; and Loxa-Lucie. Indian River Lagoon South and Pal-Mar are west of Interstate 95 and Loxa-Lucie is east of I-95.

Land could be bought two ways: buying it outright or placing a conservation easement on the property.

An easement would keep the land from being developed and would allow the current use to continue. Agricultural land, for example, could continue being farmed. Any easement would be irrevocable and last in perpetuity.

A citizens advisory committee would recommend to the county which properties to purchase.

Over more than three decades, Indian River County voters have approved three referendums to buy and protect conservation land. But there, it's been by hiking the property tax rather than the sales tax. Like the plan for Martin County, Indian River borrowed money upfront for the purchases and repaid it with revenues from the tax

Support and opposition for measure

The Martin County Taxpayers Association failed to endorse hiking the sales tax, but offered its support for letting voters decide whether to tax themselves.

"If the voters believe that buying the land is in the best interest of Martin County, then they can cast an affirmative vote," Darlene Vanriper, executive director of the Martin County Taxpayers Association, told commissioners. "This referendum was the product of a group of citizens who consider that this is the best way of protecting ecologically sensitive lands."

Tom Pine, speaking at the meeting, said he opposed the tax measure because he feels the county does a poor job of managing its money. Pine failed to provide examples of the poor management.

More details

The tax increase would apply only to the first $5,000 of a large purchase such as a car. Groceries, school supplies and prescription medicine would be exempt. Both exclusions would lessen the tax burden on local residents, proponents said.

Buying all 45,700 acres, however, would cost the county about $95,000 in lost tax revenue over the 10 years since properties purchased and put under county ownership would no longer pay property taxes.

Maintenance of infrastructure on the purchased properties would cost $40,000, Matheson said. However, "infrastructure" is somewhat of a misnomer, he said, because it would mean features such as trailheads rather than sewers.

Martin County municipalities would be able to use the revenue they receive from the increased tax as they see fit, subject to state law.

Snedecker declined to identify specific properties that might be purchased. "The minute we identify a property," he said, "the owner will double the price, so we are avoiding that issue.

Next, Martin County Forever will launch a campaign to educate voters about the initiative, Matheson said.

School district tax

The sales-tax issue might not be the only one voters see on the ballot in November. The Martin County School District is expected to ask voters to approve continuance of a half-mill property tax for an additional four years.

It expires in 2026. Voters approved the property tax in August 2022 for salaries, safety and security, employee training and mental-health programs.

State law now requires property-tax votes to be held during a general election. The School Board last week discussed bringing the tax issue for renewal in November to avoid having to skip a collection year in 2026.

County Commission approval is necessary for the school issue to go on the Nov. 5 ballot.

Staff writer Colleen Wixon contributed to this report.

Keith Burbank is TCPalm's watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882. TCPalm reporter Colleen Wixon contributed to this story.