Marin Supervisors Approve $519 Million County Budget

County Administrator Matthew Hymel (left) speaking to the Board of Supervisors about the budget along with budget manager Bret Uppendahl (right). Courtesy photo

By Bay City News Service

The Marin County Board of Supervisors has approved a 2015-2016 budget that is about six percent larger than the previous year.

The budget includes $519 million in expenses, $30 million more than the 2014-2015 budget, County Administrator Matthew Hymel said.

The county prepares its budgets in two-year cycles.

Hymel said the improving economy allows the county to pay down retiree liabilities, increase investments in roads and facilities and add to reserves.

The 2015-2016 budget includes $8 million in one-time investments for high priority needs including $4 million for road and bridge improvements, a $1 million contribution toward a detoxification facility and $200,000 for childcare and preschool scholarships.

County officials said property tax revenues are growing but they are offset by increased costs for worker’s compensation and annual pension benefits.

The budget contains $14 million more than required to pay down unfounded retiree liabilities, Hymel said. Unfunded retiree liabilities have been reduced by more than $230 million over the past three years because of
strong investment earnings and more than $75 million in accelerated payments, Hymel said.

The county reduced annual spending by more than $30 million and cut its workforce by more than 200 positions, or 11 percent, between 2008 and 2013, the county administrator’s office said.

The Board of Supervisors said affordable housing, mental health services, infrastructure needs, climate change, aging initiatives, the impact of tourism on the county and employee recruitment and retention remain key
areas of concern.

Data from the 2015-2016 budget will be included on the county’s OpenGov web page in July.