Board of Supervisors Considers Budget Plan for 2013-14

The Marin County Board of Supervisors will hold budget and planning workshops March 25-27, and the public is encouraged to participate. 

Next year’s budget marks the end of a long-term restructuring effort to adapt to the economic downturn. Over the past five years, the County has reduced more than $30 million in annual spending and cut its workforce by more than 200 positions, or 11 percent. “We have worked hard to stay ahead of the curve and it is paying off,” said Judy Arnold, President of the Board of Supervisors. “We now have a budget that is financially sustainable.” 

One reason the County’s budget has improved is that the Board of Supervisors allocated $46 million to pay down pension and retiree health unfunded liabilities.  Deputy County Administrator Daniel Eilerman said the Board’s recent investment of $46 million in one-time reserves to accelerate the payment of pension and retiree health liabilities results in an annual savings of $1.2 million next year and $3.6 million after
2013-14.

Although there are still risks of future state and federal cuts, with $2.1 million in recommended adjustments the County’s budget is balanced. Next week, the Board will consider the final $2.1 million in recommended budget adjustments necessary to close the remaining budget gap.

In January, the Board approved voluntary separation agreements that resulted in the elimination of 14.80 full-time equivalent General Fund positions, saving $2.2 million beginning next fiscal year. Overall, these two rounds of budget adjustments would result in $2.9 million in expense reductions (or approximately 70 percent of the overall solution) and the remaining $1.35 million (or 30 percent) in added revenues.  The expenditure reductions include the elimination of 16.30 full-time equivalent vacant positions overall.  No layoffs are recommended to balance the 2013-14 proposed budget.

“It has been a great team effort to get to this point,” said County Administrator Matthew Hymel. “For the first time in many years, we are not proposing substantial cuts in services.”

The Board of Supervisors will hold public hearings at 10 a.m. Monday, March 25.  The hearings will continue at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 26 and 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 27 in the Board Chambers, located in Room 330 at the Marin County Civic Center at 3501 Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. The sessions will be webcast from the County’s website.  Materials are available online along with other information about the County.  Final hearings for approval of the 2013-14 County budget will be in June.

Any questions or suggestions can be sent in the meantime to caobudget@marincounty.org.