The Marathon City Council made short work of its June agenda, knocking out technical changes to city ordinances while recognizing staff service milestones and preparing for property tax changes.
As several counties around the state sound the alarm over a property tax proposal heading to voters’ ballots this November, interim City Manager Steve Williams told the council that Marathon wouldn’t be as affected by the cuts as other areas. As currently written, the proposal would increase the homestead exemption for primary homes to $250,000 by 2028, and would adjust annually for inflation in later years.
It would drop the annual assessment increase cap for commercial real estate and non-homesteaded properties from the current 10% to 5%, and would strictly specify how local governments can use revenues, including paying for public safety, education, infrastructure, natural resources, debt service and bonds, local government employee retirement benefits and operations and administration expenses for some government employees.
In some areas like Orange County, the tax plan is projected to slash roughly $430 million from government budgets over a two-year period. But with a relatively low rate of homesteaded properties, Williams said, Marathon “won’t be as severely impacted as others.”
“I’ve heard that there are potentially four lawsuits over the constitutionality already, so that will all get worked out,” he added. “You (the council) will never vote on this – next year’s budget cycle (2027-28) would be the first time any of these actions would impact you.”
Employees recognized
City officials recognized City Clerk Diane Clavier for 20 years of service to Marathon, along with grants coordinator Maria Covelli and utilities field engineer Jared Weaver for five years.
“I don’t think the public has any idea of the things you do around this building,” said Williams of Clavier. “If the world saw some of the written documents that are presented to the city clerk to come on our agenda, and what she turns them into, she’s certainly polishing some things. Your efforts are sincerely appreciated by everyone, and your long-term service is greatly appreciated.”
In other news:
- The council recognized Marathon High School strongwoman Justice Lee Isom, who graduated in May as one of the most decorated athletes in Monroe County history after securing four state championships in track and field and weightlifting.
- A litany of ordinances future-proofed portions of Marathon’s comprehensive plan, making a more general reference to Florida’s “state land planning agency.” The agency has seen multiple name changes at the state level in recent years, changing from the Department of Economic Opportunity to FloridaCommerce.
- Resolution 2026-51, unanimously approved, waives boat ramp and beach parking and usage fees for military veterans. Vets must register with the city using a vehicle or trailer registration tag in their name, and must provide a personal ID and written proof of veteran status.
- Marathon will enter into a 90-day agreement with Monroe County allowing Deputy City Manager Brian Bradley and former county assistant risk manager Jaclyn Flatt, newly hired by the city, to assist the county’s Risk Management Office while new employees are hired. Williams told the council that the pair would assist with county duties only when city duties were complete, and that hours worked for the county would be reimbursed to the city, including base pay rates plus benefits.
- Ordinance 2026-22, unanimously approved at its first hearing, allows for fish cleaning tables, covered or uncovered, of up to eight feet in height on waterfront walkways and docks. The ordinance allows for one cleaning table per boat slip, at a maximum length of nine and a half feet.
- Resolution 2026-53 awarded the contract for construction of phases 2 and 3B of Marathon’s deep wastewater injection well to Accurate Drilling Systems, Inc. for $7,625,000. Drilling for the two phases of the federally-mandated pipeline will cover from Vaca Cut to Coco Plum Drive and throughout Grassy Key. Engineer Steve Suggs told the council that while a lane shift and reduced speed limit was to be expected throughout the two-lane “Grassy Key stretch” during the project, the hope is to leave a single lane open in both directions. Suggs told the council Accurate was selected as one of six responsive bidders for the project, evaluated with a combination of pricing and the firm’s qualifications.
