Your County Government

The five member Board of County Commissioners is the legislative governing body of Martin County.

Each Commissioner is elected to a four-year term by voters in the countywide area. Commission members take office two weeks after they are elected in the November General Elections. Every year, Commission members elect a chair to preside over the County Commission meetings and to serve as ceremonial head of the County. A vice-chair is also selected to assume these duties in the absence of the chair.

Chapter 125.01 of the Florida Statutes establishes the specific duties and powers of the Board of County Commissioners. Exercising their legislative powers, the County Commission adopts ordinances (local laws) and resolutions to establish policies and programs to protect the health, safety and general welfare of Martin County residents.

The County Commission considers major problems facing county government and guides the growth and development of the County to be consistent with the public interest. Some of the specific duties undertaken by the Board include:

• Provide fire protection and disaster relief services.
• Provide for the construction and maintenance of County buildings, roads and bridges.
• Provide programs of housing, community redevelopment, slum clearance, conservation, flood and beach erosion control and air pollution control.
• Adopt and enforce buildings and housing codes and regulations.
• Prepare, enforce and periodically review the Comprehensive Land-Use Plan for the development of the unincorporated area of the County.
• Provide cultural and recreational facilities and programs.

In addition, the Board of County Commissioners may enter into agreements with other governmental agencies for joint performance of duties.

Commission Meetings

Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of County Commissioners. All meetings are open to the public.

The Commission meets in regular session at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month. Each Tuesday meeting is reserved for advertised public hearings, "Public Forum" at 9 am and 5:05 p.m. (comments limited to 3 minutes), and the regular agenda.

Meetings are held in the Board's Chambers on the first floor of the County Administrative Center located at 2401 SE Monterey Road, Stuart.
Workshop meetings are held whenever necessary. Workshops are also open to the public.

Copies of the meeting agendas are available at least a day before the meetings at the information desk in the County Administrative Center on the fourth floor.

Members of the public who wish to address the Commission are asked to fill out comment cards available inside the Commission Chambers.

The Administrative Branch

The County Commission appoints the County Administrator and assigns to the Administrator executive responsibilities and powers to implement its policies. Under the direction of the County Administrator, over 12 departments and offices combine their efforts to provide County residents with needed services, information and programs.

Advisory Boards, Committees and Councils

The Board of County Commissioners appoints County residents to serve as volunteers on various citizens' boards, commissions, committees and councils. These groups are established for advisory and/or regulatory purposes. State law requires that some advisory boards exist; others are formed by the County Commission to meet special needs and to help solve the challenging issues facing county government.

Funding County Government

The County's financial operations are budgeted on a fiscal year that begins October 1. The Board of County Commissioners is responsible for approving the operating budget of county government and setting the property tax (millage) rate.

Prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, the County Commission holds two public hearings on the proposed budget submitted by the County Administrator. After these hearings are concluded, the Commission may make changes in the proposed budget. Once this budget review process is completed, the Commission advertises its intent to adopt the final budget and to adopt a resolution to provide the county government with operating and capital funds.Throughout the year, the Commission may review and amend the budget using the review process.

Constitutional Officers/Judiciary

Constitutional Officers and the Judiciary are those County officials, other than the County Commissioners, whom the voters elect.

The Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, Property Appraiser, Sheriff, Supervisor of Elections, Public Defender, State Attorney and the Tax Collector are Constitutional Officers elected to serve four-year terms. Constitutional Officers establish the budgets for their offices, independent of the budget established for offices under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners. However, Constitutional Officers work in cooperation with the Commission in order to serve citizens of the County efficiently and cost-effectively.

Independent Taxing Districts

Martin County is not a consolidated or "metro" form of government.

The Martin County School System is governed by a non-partisan elected School Board and operates under the direction of an elected superintendent. The County Commission has no jurisdiction over the School Board or its budget.

The South Florida Water Management District, the Children's Services Council, the Health Care District, drainage districts, inlet districts and 3 municipalities within the County also are not under the authority of the Board of County Commissioners.