San Rafael, CA – Marin County’s two-year budget proposal, which will be presented to the Board of Supervisors on June 7, maintains current services and reflects the Board’s highest priorities. Overall, the budget is increasing by 4 percent for a total of $540 million. Budget hearings will begin at 9:30 a.m. June 20 in the Board chamber at the Marin County Civic Center.
The overall proposed budget is $540 million.
“As we prepare for future economic uncertainty, our stable local economy provides us the opportunity to focus on long-term strategies, continue to pay down unfunded retiree obligations, and increase investments in roads, facilities and technology,” said Budget Manager Bret Uppendahl.
Highlights of the proposed budget include:
- Investing in Road Maintenance – including $19 million for road improvement projects, $7 million of which is supported by the General Fund
- Reducing Unfunded Retiree Liabilities - including a $1 million contribution to the pension rate stabilization reserve (bringing the total to $7 million), and a $10 million contribution to the retiree health trust fund, bringing the total balance to over $70 million
- Preserving Affordable Housing - including a $1 million contribution to the housing trust for the preservation of affordable housing for families and $450,000 for a new landlord incentive program
- Enhancing Mental Health Services and Homeless programs – including increasing ongoing mental health programs by over $2 million, $400,000 to implement the Homeless Outreach Team, and a one-time allocation of $525,000 to acquire mental health transitional housing
- Reducing Traffic Congestion/ Addressing Climate Change - $1 million to implement our Climate Action Plan, including $500,000 for new public transportation incentives for County employees and $500,000 for building investments to reduce our carbon footprint
- Implementing the 5 Year Business Plan – including $500,000 in ongoing technology investments to provide improved e-government options, and $1 million in one-time investments to implement e-government and mobile apps
Between 2008 and 2013, the County reduced more than $30 million in annual spending and cut its workforce by more than 200 positions, or 11 percent. A track record of fiscal discipline and the ability to reduce unfunded liabilities were primary reasons that all three independent credit rating agencies affirmed the County’s AAA credit rating in 2015.
The budget will be available on the County Administrator's Office Budget Overview webpage. Learn more about the budget on the County’s OpenGov webpage, a platform launched in 2014 to bring the budget process to a new level of financial transparency. Fiscal Year 2016-17 data will be added to OpenGov in July.
After the Board starts its review of the proposed budget on June 20, it will continue the hearing at 1:30 p.m. June 22, also in the Board chamber at the Civic Center. At the end of the June 22 hearing, the Board will vote on the proposed budget for next year.