CS/HB 395 - Town of Hobe Sound Charter

• Creates the Town of Hobe Sound as a municipality in Martin County with a council-manager form of government, effective upon voter approval in a referendum held August 28, 2018, with legal incorporation date of December 31, 2018.

• Establishes a five-member town council elected at-large from five districts with 4-year terms, plus a town manager as chief administrative officer and a town attorney, with nonpartisan elections held March 12, 2019, and thereafter.

• Defines the town's boundaries (approximately 6,061.46 acres) and grants broad home rule powers for governmental, corporate, and proprietary functions including taxation, budgeting, land use planning, and service delivery.

• Provides for state revenue sharing effective April 1, 2019, local revenue sources including communications services tax, local option gas tax revenues beginning October 1, 2019, and allows contractual services with Martin County or other entities during transition.

• Includes transition provisions allowing Martin County ordinances and comprehensive plan to remain in effect temporarily, establishes initial council terms staggered to 2020 and 2022 elections, and permits borrowing for first-year municipal expenses.