Marin Board of Supers. to adopt County Budget/Meet on special district/capital improvement

From IJ Site
Board of Supervisors poised to adopt budgets
Staff Report
Article Launched: 07/21/2007 10:30:37 PM PDT

The Marin County Board of Supervisors will discuss the county's 2007-08 budgets for administration, health, community development, public works and public safety during a meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, the board will discuss special district and capital improvement budgets and vote to adopt the budgets.

Meetings are in Room 330 of the Civic Center in San Rafael. For details, call 499-733

more info from them on it @ http://egovwebprd.marinpublic.com/depts/AD/main/bgt07/index.cfm

From IJ Site
County considers record budget Tuesday
Rob Rogers
Article Launched: 06/16/2007 04:14:58 PM PDT

A record $414.3 million Marin County budget, up 3.5 percent from last year, has been proposed by County Administrator Matthew Hymel and will be reviewed by supervisors Tuesday.

The 2007-08 budget includes an additional $6.5 million to pay for pension and retiree health costs in light of the county's liabilities of $200 million in pension costs and $378 million in unfunded retiree medical benefits.

In addition to $1.5 million in additional retiree health payments and $3 million in increased payments to the pension system, the budget would add $2 million to Marin's retiree health reserve. Taxpayer costs of the county pension system approached $50 million this year.

The budget proposal includes $1.7 million to cover additional energy costs and $800,000 to pay for a presidential primary election in February.

It also includes several one-time expenses, including $1 million for improvements to bring county buildings in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and $180,000 to create an environmental health permit tracking system.

The budget also adds $250,000 to support programs for the homeless and $100,000 to pay for the Marin City Health and Wellness Center.

In addition, it includes $100,000 for an updated master
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plan for San Rafael's McInnis Park that could include new locations for the Field of Dogs dog park and petanque court. Residents of nearby Santa Venetia have opposed eliminating the dog park and petanque court to make room for a public safety building.

Otherwise, the budget's funding sources and priorities are largely the same as in years past, Hymel said.

"Overall, the budget grew by 3.5 percent, which is moderate," Hymel said. "There aren't a lot of new funding sources, so we haven't added a lot of new initiatives. We're focused on working with each department to help them do well what they've been doing currently."

Taxes make up the largest share of the county's income, at 39 percent, with federal and state funding just behind at 38 percent. The county gets 10 percent of its funds through fees for services, such as election services and land surveying, and another 1 percent from fines and penalties. Business licenses and permit fees provide 2 percent of the county's income.

The county spends most of its money - 34 percent, or $142 million - on health and human services, up $8.3 million from last year. Marin proposes to increase spending on alcohol, drugs and tobacco, mental health and social services programs - but cut services for the aging by $157,852.

A 2005 survey suggested that 61 percent of seniors were satisfied with county health services, while only 51 percent of mental health customers and 48 percent of low income residents felt the same.

Public safety consumes 26 percent of the budget, or $108 million, up $7.6 million from last year. The sheriff's department posted the largest increase proposal, climbing by $3.3 million to $45 million. The county fire department received a $1.2 million increase, to $18.8 million, while the probation department rose by $1.3 million to $14.8 million.

Administration and finance captured 15 percent of the budget, or $62.8 million, with the Information Services and Technology Department receiving a $3.9 million increase - and the Auditor-Controller's department losing $1.6 million.

Planning and public works receives 12 percent of county funds, or $49.7 million.

The county expects to resurface 248,000 square feet of public road - less than the 275,000 square feet it surfaced last year, at a cost of $5 per square foot.

Services such as parks, libraries and farm support receive 6 percent of the budget, or $22.9 million. The Marin County Free Library will receive an additional $572,590 and will hire a Spanish-speaking librarian.

The county expects to hire 9.5 new full-time employees, with two working to implement Marin's new MERIT computer system.

According to county officials, Marin spends less per resident at $1,587 than Napa, Sonoma, Santa Barbara or San Mateo counties.

Because neither the state nor federal government has released its final budget, county officials say as much as $4 million for specific programs could be in jeopardy. Those programs include $1.8 million for the county's mentally ill offender crime reduction program, $1.4 million in mental health services for the homeless and up to $400,000 in Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act funding.

"The good thing about the state budget is that the passage of Proposition 1A protects our general fund," Hymel said. "But 40 percent of our resources come from state and federal funds. Cities don't see a lot of changes in state revenue sources, but counties are particularly vulnerable. Hopefully, most of the reductions we're anticipating won't occur."

Marin supervisors will tentatively endorse the 2007-08 budget at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Civic Center. The board will discuss budget issues during hearings at 9 a.m. July 25 and 10 a.m. July 26.

Contact Rob Rogers via e-mail at rrogers [at] marinij.com

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