Marin County Executive Derek Johnson is suggesting that the county develop a new strategic plan, the first one since 2001.
“Eventually, the strategic plan must serve as our guiding principle. It should direct our work plans, capital expenditures, and your policy choices,” Johnson said to county supervisors during a budget session on Monday.
He suggested beginning the process right away so that the plan could be finished approximately one year from now.
Supervisors received the findings from a “strategic planning voter survey,” for which the county hired FM3 research to conduct the study at a cost of $50,000. The survey, which included 851 Marin voters, was carried out through phone and online methods between November 8 and 19.
Respondents were questioned about whether the county “has a significant need for ongoing funding, some level of need, a small amount of need, or no actual need for continued financial support” to maintain the services they desire. Sixty-four percent indicated there is either a significant need or some need. Twenty-four percent stated there is a small amount of need or no need, while 12% did not have an opinion.
“This level of support was seen as a solid foundation for a simple majority funding initiative, yet it also indicated that further public education would be needed to gain wider agreement for a higher approval standard,” a county staff report stated. The report did not specify what the funding measure would entail.
The study found that the individuals most inclined to express a need for more funding were women between the ages of 30 and 50 without college degrees, who have children, rent their homes, and earn between $25,000 and $50,000 annually.
When asked whether the county is moving in the correct direction or heading in the wrong way, 37% stated it is on the right path, 31% indicated it is on the wrong track, and 32% said they have no opinion.
When presented with an open-ended question about the primary challenge affecting Marin residents that the county government could tackle, 31% mentioned housing, 17% pointed to homelessness, 11% referred to traffic and congestion, 10% highlighted infrastructure, roads, and street upkeep, 9% discussed the cost of living and inflation, and 8% identified growth, development, and overpopulation.
“A significant portion of respondents expressed worries regarding growth and overdevelopment, and I believe this points to a continuous conflict in Marin, with strong worries about housing affordability, as well as concerns about how growth is handled,” said Linn Walsh, a deputy county executive.
At the end of the list of issues, immigration and border control was mentioned by 4% of participants, while economy and jobs, as well as health care, were each noted by 3% of respondents.
The top six focus areas for county supervisors at the moment include tackling affordable housing and homelessness, preparing for disasters, improving county infrastructure, promoting racial equity, building climate resilience, and supporting community and economic growth.
Walsh mentioned that voters in Marin are typically “white or Caucasian, older, very well-educated, mostly homeowners, and have a relatively high income.”
So to increase participation,” she stated, “we have collaborated with the Marin Community Foundation, which has agreed to carry out an additional resident survey, designed to gather opinions from individuals who are typically not included in standard surveys.
Johnson stated that a new strategic plan is required immediately to enable the county to focus its expenditures on tackling Marin’s most significant issues.
“Marin is going through certain structural changes that will influence our budget and services for many years,” Johnson stated.
Marin’s population has dropped by 3.5% since 2016, while its K-12 student numbers have fallen by 12% between 2019 and 2025. The average age in Marin is 48, whereas the state average is 38. Meanwhile, the county is growing more varied, with 20% of people reporting Hispanic heritage.
We’ve observed an economy that hasn’t completely recovered to pre-pandemic employment rates,” Johnson stated, “and in certain regions, it’s performing worse than the rest of the state and other parts of the Bay Area.
Talia Smith, who serves as a deputy county executive, mentioned that there are 5,000 fewer job positions in Marin now compared to January 2020, with a 3.6% reduction in the workforce. Just 37% of Marin’s residents are employed within the county, while the rest travel to neighboring areas for work.
Josh Swedberg, the county budget director, mentioned that although the budget isn’t heavily reliant on sales taxes, it is significantly dependent on property taxes. Swedberg stated that he has lowered his estimates for the increase in the assessed value of Marin County properties for the fiscal year 2026-27 from 4.5% to 4%. The assessed value has typically increased by an average of 5% over the past 20 years.
Johnson stated that a shared objective will be necessary to address the county’s numerous challenges.
“Eventually, it will require us in the administrative leadership role to truly coordinate with our department heads to involve our community effectively,” he stated.
He mentioned that cooperation across different jurisdictions will also be required.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to spend time with all 11 city managers across Marin County,” Johnson stated. “I believe there is a shared recognition of the data trends and an agreement that we need to collaborate for the sake of community and economic health. I would advise this board to focus on that aspect when considering the work program for the next two years.
Rollie Katz, the head of the Marin Association of Public Employees, stated, “Please forgive my doubt, not bitterness. I’ve witnessed many individuals invest considerable time in creating such plans. With all due respect, the people we represent who are fixing road holes and filling out paperwork aren’t focusing much on a North Star.”
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