Recent News

During commissioner comments at a recent City of Stuart meeting, Commissioner Becky Bruner made a remarkable request of her fellow board members. She wants to spend $50,000 of taxpayer dollars to help the Martin County Arts Council with their planning of the...

We posed the question to our readers as to whether school board members should be compensated. Without exception, the responses we received believe that school board members should be compensated at best with a small stipend. This is in keeping with most of the rest...

  That is a question being asked in Tallahassee during this legislative session. A bill has been introduced in the House to have a constitutional amendment to ban school board salaries. Currently, school board members’ salaries across the state are set by the...

The county administrator invited the MCTA to sit in on the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) discussions to create a list for the next budget year. We attended approximately 50% of the departmental meetings with senior management held over the course of two weeks. At...

As we come to the end of a most difficult 2020, it is time to examine what the next year may bring to the Martin County Taxpayer. Our real estate taxes won’t change in this budget year. Many of us have already paid those taxes to receive the discount that is offered....

The BOCC will consider contracts for County waste collection at its September 15th meeting. The agenda item is set to be heard at 1:15 pm. The contract will have a term of eight years. The difference in the new rates between the current vendor, Waste Management, and...

The District has given us another example of why our health care system is so completely off the rails. The Board provides to all full-time employees, defined as at least 37.5 hours per week, a $6,500 yearly contribution ($541.67 per month) toward their insurance....

According to the Martin County Property Appraiser’s website (https://www.pa.martin.fl.us/), there are 16. They encompass reasons as varied as being a Florida resident to a limited-income Florida senior or a disabled vet. Government largess at its finest but is it to...

As we celebrate our nation’s independence this July 4th, it is important that we pause and reflect on the many tenets that make up the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration of Independence, along with the Constitution are the most important documents in the...

Initially we should state that the opinion of this organization is that many non-profits are much needed, even essential to a sustainable and civilized community.  So, it is NOT the purpose of this article to criticize any non-profit.   But we did think we should...

Owners of property in Martin County receive a real estate tax bill. When we examine the bills we receive, we care most about the total amount we are obligated to pay. The bill itself has many different lines that distinguish the component amounts that create the total...

“EARMARKS is a terrible word, right?” These were the words of former US Congressman, Tom Rooney at the Martin County Taxpayers Association’s annual dinner held on March 27th at the Kane Center.  Mr. Rooney is known to be forthright and honest.  He didn’t disappoint. ...

The governments of Martin County are beginning their budget processes for the upcoming fiscal year. As they begin to put together their operating, capital improvement plan, and enterprise fund budgets, the public will see that there will be increases in various taxes...

More Money For A Failed Water Park Posted on February 14, 2019 How can the County spend your tax dollars more frivolously than they have in the past? The new planned expansion of Sailfish Splash Water Park brought to you by Abbate Enterprises (Parks & Rec...

What Does Stuart & NYC Have In Common? Posted on February 25, 2019 What does Stuart have in common with New York City? At first look, it would seem not much. There are blocks in New York that seem to have as many residents as all of Stuart. There are no tall...

Much has been made about the animosity that has existed between the City of Stuart and Martin County. It is true that, at times, there has been tension between the governmental entities. But why should it exist at all? All local government, both counties and...

A month ago, I wrote the first installment of a two-part series on how we pay for government services and what services should government provide. The first piece concentrated on which services to provide and the difference between what the government should do and...

Martin County Taxpayer’s Association Review of Martin County School District’s Sales Tax Increase The mission of the Martin County Taxpayer’s Association (MCTA) is “To monitor and review all fiscal and tax matters affecting Martin County. To engage public officials,...

Amendment One The mission of the Martin County Taxpayer’s Association (MCTA) is: To monitor and review all fiscal and tax matters affecting Martin County. To engage public officials, community leaders and private sector organizations who may influence the economy and...

What Government Services To Provide & How To Pay (Part 1) This is an excerpt from a piece written by Tom Campenni.  You can read the entire piece on TomCampenni.com.  Editing and italics provided by Exec. Dir. MCTA For the most part, governmental entities do not...

Florida Amendment 2, the Permanent Cap on Non-homestead Parcel Assessment Increases Amendment 2 would make permanent the cap of 10% on annual non-homestead parcel assessment increases set to expire on January 1, 2019.  The cap does apply to school district taxes....

So what are the repercussions of the Board of County Commissioner’s decision to “kill” the Fire Fee Assessment?  After a large crowd assembled before the Commission to complain profusely that the fee would be “unfair” and “unequitable,” Commissioners Sarah Heard, Ed...

Park & Rec Advisory Board meeting August 16, 2018 Project Updates:     Stuart Beach dune walkway has been updated to meet ADA standards.     $500,000.00 was spent on new fences around athletic fields at Halpatioke Park. These fences are 30 ft high, replacing...

Martin County Taxpayer’s Association Review of Martin County’s Special Assessment for Fire Services   The mission of the Martin County Taxpayer’s Association (MCTA): “To monitor and review all fiscal and tax matters affecting Martin County. To engage public...

Martin County Taxpayer’s Association Review of Martin County School District’s Millage Increase The mission of the Martin County Taxpayer’s Association (MCTA) is: “To monitor and review all fiscal and tax matters affecting Martin County. To engage public officials,...

The MCTA generally hosts a guest speaker at our monthly board meetings.  The following is from retiring school board member, Tina McSoley who was our guest in April.  Her views and statements are for informational purposes and in no way reflect the opinions of the...

Martin County has officially responded to your report and suggestions. Click to view the PDF below. What do you think of their comments? Click to Download PDF of their Reply Members can comment below!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSdWQnXte0E  

That Sailfish Splash Water Park (SSWP) has always been controversial is an understatement.  SSWP was born out of what the taxpayer was told was a need to replace the Martin County High School Swimming Pool (which we are still paying well over $100,000 through our...

Park and Rec Advisory Board meeting February 15, 2018 Pegeen Hanrahan, Southeast Urban Parks Finance Director, The Trust for Public Land spoke to the board regarding possible funding options for Park & Rec's Master Plan and Capital Improvement Plan. The Trust for...