Governing Statute

An Introduction to the Children’s Services Council of Martin County

The Children’s Services Council of Martin County is an independent special district of local government, authorized by Florida Statute 125.901 Amended 1989 – Juvenile Welfare Services, and Amended 1990, but CSCMC took the option to continue to operate under s.125.901 as it existed prior to 10-01-1990 (as footnoted in s. 30, ch. 90-288). CSCMC was then created by Local Ordinance #348 on June 28, 1988.

The purpose of the Children’s Services Council is to plan, coordinate, fund, and evaluate programs and to address public policy issues relating to children in Martin County.

To implement its mandate, the Council is empowered by local referendum (November 8, 1988) to assess an ad valorem tax up to one-half mill ($0.50 per $1,000) of non-exempt property evaluation. On November 4, 2014, the Council was reauthorized by 77% of Martin County voters.

The Council is composed of ten (10) members:

Five (5) ex-officio Council Members (appointed by virtue of their office or position), including:

• Juvenile Court Judge
• Member of Martin County Board of County Commissioners
• Member of Martin County School Board
• Circuit 19 Administrator of the Florida Department of Children and Families or his/her designee
• Superintendent of Martin County Schools

and

Five (5) Florida Governor’s appointees to serve terms of four (4) years each