Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – The County of Marin will allocate unassigned funding from the 2024-25 budget for future investment in County services. At its March 10 meeting, the Board of Supervisors earmarked $10,685,154 of the General Fund unassigned year-end fund balance for new priorities.
Disciplined financial practices typically generate a year-end balance at the close of each budget cycle, and the Board consistently directs these one-time revenues toward one-time investments. The Board made its March 10 allocations after the Department of Finance completed its audit of fiscal year 2024-25. Interim Assistant County Executive Josh Swedberg said the balance was the result of stronger-than-anticipated investment earnings, expenditure savings, and revenue performance.
The Supervisors followed budget staff recommendations and allocated the resources to:
- support facilities and affordable housing commitments ($6 million);
- Increase the homelessness contingency reserve ($2 million);
- provide fixed-term staffing support for the Department of Public Works and the Community Development Agency to address organizational implementation priorities ($1,685,154);
- advance design work for infrastructure improvements along the Sir Francis Drake Boulevard between Larkspur and San Anselmo ($500,000); and
- extend previously approved immigration support funding ($500,000).
Many of the allocations support low-income and historically marginalized Marin residents, including newer immigrants who need safety, household stability, and access to services. The County is monitoring federal changes to social safety net programs and expects additional challenges in how health care and other benefits are delivered.
In the coming months, the County will continue refining its 2026-28 budget process and refining a draft workplan and three-year fiscal forecast. Departmental workplans for the upcoming budget will align with and advance the Board’s top priorities, including:
- Increasing affordable housing and addressing homelessness
- Building a racially equitable community
- Reducing emissions and building climate-resilient communities
- Enhancing disaster and emergency preparedness
- Investing in County-maintained infrastructure
- Improving community and economic vitality
County staff is reviewing public and Board input from the February workshops, refining the fiscal forecast, and preparing to return to the Board in April with an updated version of the workplan. After workplan approval and a review of the State of California’s expected budget revisions for the next fiscal year, the County will publish a proposed 2026-2028 budget on the County website by mid-May. The annual budget hearings are scheduled for June 8-10, when the Board will review and consider final budget approval.
Learn more about the budget process by checking interactive tools on the County’s budget webpage. Feedback about budget priorities may be emailed to the budget staff.