Please join the Martin County Taxpayers’ Association as we celebrate our 60th anniversary on April 9 th, 2010.  Chef Shaun Southwick and students from the Martin County High School Culinary Arts program will be catering the event at the Indian RiverSide Park in Jensen Beach.  United States Representative Tom Rooney is the keynote speaker.  Reservations can be made online at www.mctaxpayers.org.  The deadline is April 1.

The Martin County Taxpayers Association is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to study the tax situation in Martin County.  We are an advocacy organization that strives to support good government in our County, Cities and School District with more than 700 subscribing members.  We are not an anti-tax or anti-government organization.  We are concerned with our County’s financial well being and work for a healthy future for all taxpayers of Martin County.

The Taxpayer’s Association was formed by Jupiter Island founders and developers, Mr Joseph V. Reed and his wife Permelia Pryor Reed.  Mrs. Reed and her attorney, Mr. Ted Oughterson, gathered together a group of individuals who had the same principles of responsible government in mind.  Mrs. Reed served as the organization’s first president.  The son of founders Joseph and Permelia Reed, Nathaniel, was as a member of the MCTA board of directors in the early 1960s and still enjoys monitoring the group’s activities.

Since the Association was chartered on January 24, 1950, we have been involved with a myriad of issues. This column began in the fall of 1998 with an introduction of our mission, a description of our “watchdog” activities within various county, school district, and the City of Stuart departments, and encouragement that taxpayers demand cost containment from their elected officials. 

The MCTA has kept a close eye on the county budget since 1950, and has been active in many events in Martin County’s history.   We testified before the Atomic Energy Commission during the hearings regarding the construction of the FPL nuclear plant on Hutchinson Island, recommending the use of ocean water rather than water from the Indian River be used to cool the plant.  We supported, and continue to support, the four-story building and density limitations, first proposed by Frank Wacha and Andy Pittman and we were deeply involved in the hearings lead by Commissioner William G. Myers that gave us our first Comprehensive Development Plan for Martin County in 1972.

One of the originators of our Association was Bill King, former owner of the Pelican Hotel. While not an official of any sort, Bill King actually produced the county budget for the Clerk of Circuit Court, who by law was charged with the duty at that time.  Other members of the original Board were Admiral Richard Tuggle, a Town Manager of Jupiter Island, Jack Friday, Griscomb Beddle, E.C. Wareheim, S.F. Stephenson, E. W. Dutton, H. B. Clark, Robert B. Johnson, Warner G. Baird, A.J.L. Moritz, and R.E. McConnell.  Ed Gluckler, a former Miami Herald reporter and county commissioner, served as our Executive Director and secretary for 27 years, through the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s. 

Since those early days many community leaders have served this organization well including the late  Jack A. Robinson,  of the Indiantown Company, John Mulliken, former journalist for Time Magazine and former Mayor of Jupiter Island, former Florida State Representative and County Commissioner, Bill Owens, Herb Moloney, who formed the “Watchdog Committee” of the MCTA and George Oliver, of the Bessemer Company.  Our Board has included leaders from the business, medical, professional, environmental, non profit and charity organizations as well as former School District Superintendents, former School Board members, City Commissioners from all four of our municipalities and  many former County Commissioners.  We are in your corner!

We hope you will join us as we reminisce about our history while continuing to look forward to a better Martin County.