Better Service at Lower Cost — Optimizing Essential Services for the Future of Marin

Marin County depends on more than 50 special districts to deliver essential public services including fire protection, water, sanitation, and refuse services. Many currently provide average or above average levels of service according to recent county surveys, due in part to conscientious local stewardship and decades of dedicated civic engagement. However, the current fragmented structure of essential service delivery has produced structural weaknesses: duplicated administrative systems; uneven service quality and fees; and limited capacity for strategic investment. This report outlines an opportunity for the public and board members to make changes that will benefit Marin residents for decades. Optimization of these special districts into resilient, more efficient entities can offer improved services at lower costs for residents.

This report was released to the public on June 11, 2026.