Board Hears Marin County's 2017-2018 Budget

MARIN COUNTY, CA – The Marin County Administrator's Office introduced the 2017-2018 budget at the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday.

The proposed 2017-2018 budget of $555 million includes $440 million in General Fund spending and is 2.6 percent higher than the 2016-2017 budget.

The county operates on a two-year budget plan.

The 2017-2018 budget contains new priorities that include funding for 100 percent "Deep Green" power from renewable energy resources provided by Marin Clean Energy, more money for mental health services including a two-year pilot project for Laura's Law that allows for court-assisted outpatient treatment of serious mental illness, and one-time funding of $375,000 for an assessment of the county's vulnerability to sea level rise.

According to the county administrator's office, the median price of a home in the county is $1.2 million but annual growth in the county's property tax revenue has declined over the past two years.

Increasing personnel costs and deferred maintenance over the next five years are expected to outpace growth and cause budget shortfalls starting in 2018.

Marin County's unfunded retiree obligations that include pensions, pension obligation bonds and health benefits are $679 million this year, but the county has reduced those unfunded liabilities by $200 million over the past five years, according to the county administrator's office.

The Board of Supervisors has scheduled a budget hearing on June 19.

By Bay City News Service / Image courtesy of County of Marin