Bay Area County Approves Budget Of Over $800 Million For ‘25-26

MARIN COUNTY, CA — After three days of public hearings at the Marin County Civic Center, the board of supervisors approved a budget Wednesday that will be a 6% increase from the previous fiscal year.

The new budget will be $865.8 million and will take effect on July 1. It includes $10.4 million in one-time funds designated towards enhancements and pilot initiatives.

The largest source of revenue for the budget comes from taxes and the state and federal governments. The biggest expenditure is on the County’s salaries and benefits.

“Our strong fiscal discipline allows us to keep investing in the people, services, and priorities that matter most to our community, including $20.4 million toward affordable housing,” said Mary Sackett, board president and District 1 supervisor. “While we anticipate cuts in federal and state funding that we won’t be able to fully offset, we are maintaining healthy reserves so we can make strategic decisions in the face of potential reductions.”

The County will look to expand the 24/7 mental health crisis support team, invest in wildfire response by adding eight full-time positions to the Marin County Fire Department and will look to improve prevention, training, and operational efficiency. The County will also aim to improve roads.

“We appreciate the support of the community as we embrace innovation and explore new approaches to emerging challenges,” said Derek Johnson, the Marin County executive. “We’re committed to adapting and leading with impact, delivering our best work in service to this Board and the community that relies on us.”

The board stated this budget will also reflect the County’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.