Marin Seeks Volunteers To Help Steer Funding Priorities

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Marin County is seeking community members to help oversee how state and federal dollars are spent locally, along with the revenue generated by taxes on visitors to West Marin.

Measure Q , approved by voters in 2019, raised transient occupancy taxes on hotel and short-term rental stays from 10 percent to 14 percent, generating $1.2 million annually. Half of that money is earmarked for housing projects in West Marin, with the other half designed to bolster fire and emergency services.

The county's Community Development Agency is accepting applications for a handful of groups that help craft recommendations for how the government prioritizes spending for various purposes and local grants.

There are three openings on the Countywide Priority Setting Committee, which provides the Board of Supervisors with guidance for spending Community Development Block Grant, Home Investment Partnerships Programs, and Permanent Local Housing Allocation funds.

The county is looking to add a new member from each of these three areas:

• Fairfax, Ross, San Anselmo, and adjacent unincorporated communities.
• Belvedere, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Tiburon, and adjacent unincorporated communities, including Marin City, Strawberry and Tam Valley.
• Countywide, as an at-large member.

Applications for two Measure W committees are available on the CDA’s Measure W website, by emailing the CDA staff, or by calling (415) 473-6279. The application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13. Applications for the Countywide Priority Setting Committee can be found on the CDA’s Housing and Federal Grants website. The application deadline is also by 4 p.m. on Oct. 13.