Marin County Board of Supervisors President Mary Sackett on Monday opened a three‑day budget workshop intended to shape the fiscal year 2025–26 proposed budget and update the county's two‑year work program. County Executive Derek and Budget Director Josh Swedberg led a strategic scan meant to align the roughly $850 million budget with the board's six strategic priorities.

The workshop framed several near‑term fiscal items for board consideration: a staff recommendation to allocate $2.4 million in unassigned fund balance to the county's affordable housing trust, an anticipated $10–15 million in potential year‑end savings staff expects to identify, and a projection that the county can maintain a balanced budget over the next three years if current economic assumptions hold.

Derek described the session as a first step in a multi‑month process that will return to the board with detailed proposals in May. Swedberg said Marin remains in a strong overall fiscal position but flagged "significant uncertainty" from rapidly changing federal and state policy that staff are monitoring. He emphasized the workshop's purpose as gathering board direction on data trends, strategic priorities and any work‑program clarifications needed before the May proposed budget.

During the strategic scan staff presented demographic forecasts showing an older population profile and continued diversity gains, housing and affordability metrics that remain high relative to many peers, and increasing wildfire and sea‑level rise risks. Supervisors raised questions about housing supply, right‑sizing homes for an aging population, the county's role in regional economic and place‑making efforts and the need for clearer data on community impacts.

Swedberg said the county will return March 4 with finalized projections and an allocation recommendation for the $2.4 million unassigned fund balance, and will present a full proposed budget and hearings in May. The board directed staff to continue refining the work program, identify any items that should be added or deferred, and to bring forward options for one‑time investments and fee reforms tied to departmental cost recovery.