Martin County Commission approves tax to be put on November ballot, voters to decide

The crowd claps after Martin County commissioners voted 4-0 to put a land conservation sales tax referendum on the November ballot, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Jim Snedeker, of Martin County Forever, creates a sign outside the Martin County Administrative Center in support of the half-cent sales tax referendum, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Martin County Forever and community members gather outside the Martin County Administrative Center in support of the half-cent sales tax referendum, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Martin County Forever committee member Merritt Matheson is congratulated after Martin County commissioners voted 4-0 to put a half-cent sales tax for land conservation on the November ballot, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. If voters agree, the tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

"I am a giant animal lover and we can't live on this earth without plants," said Sophia Keith, 10, a 4th-grader at Bridges Montessori school, who creates a poster outside the Martin County Administrative Center in support of the half-cent sales tax referendum, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Stacy Weller Ranieri, of Firefly Public Relations and Marketing, passes out Martin County Forever stickers during a commission meeting ahead of the half-cent sales tax referendum vote, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Martin County Forever and community members gather outside the Martin County Administrative Center in support of the half-cent sales tax referendum, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Jonah Dove, 12, a 6th-grader at Bridges Montessori school, creates a poster outside the Martin County Administrative Center in support of the half-cent sales tax referendum, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Martin County commissioners voted 4-0 to put a half-cent sales tax for land conservation on the November ballot, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart.

Martin County commissioner Doug Smith speaks before voting on a land conservation sales tax referendum during a meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. If voters agree, the tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Jim Snedecker, Martin County Forever, answers a question from the commissioners before a vote on the land conservation half-cent sales tax referendum that would be on the November ballot, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Martin County commissioner Ed Ciampi speaks before voting on a land conservation sales tax referendum during a meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Martin County commissioner Sarah Heard speaks before voting on a land conservation sales tax referendum during a meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. Martin County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.

Martin County Forever and community members gather outside the Martin County Administrative Center in support of the half-cent sales tax referendum, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at 2401 S.E. Monterey Rd. in Stuart. County commissioners decided Tuesday 4-0 to put the land conservation referendum before voters in November. The tax is expected to raise over $18 million a year to buy land. The half-cent tax would raise the county's sales tax to 7 percent and is backed by the conservation group Martin County Forever.