Questions and Answers

Where do your basic (1%) Property Taxes go?

For Detailed Information on Your Parcel go to:

How much do Marin property owners pay in basic (1%) property taxes?

Fiscal 2000-2001   $309,948,562

Fiscal 2001-2002   $340,557,006

Fiscal 2002-2003   $364,761,766

Fiscal 2003-2004   $390,423,821

Fiscal 2004-2005   $417,532,564

Fiscal 2005-2006   $454,131,515

Fiscal 2006-2007   $492,620,139

Fiscal 2007-2008   $525,539,470

Fiscal 2008-2009   $555,600,135

Fiscal 2009-2010   $564,723,778

Fiscal 2010-2011   $557,641,421

 




 

How is it distributed?

The allocation of property taxes to government agencies varies depending on historic property tax levels and the agencies that provide services in your area. The following table is provided for Marin County governmental agencies.

 

County of Marin TAX Distribution by Local Agencies
	FISCAL YEAR 2008-09		FISCAL YEAR 2009-10		FISCAL YEAR 2010-11
	Net Taxes	Percent	Net Taxes	Percent	Net Taxes	Percent
County	140,043,446	25.2%	146,576,178	26.0%	142,656,966	25.6%
Cities	83,641,293	15.1%	86,577,469	15.3%	83,200,994	14.9%
Districts	71,538,171	12.9%	73,107,126	12.9%	71,563,256	12.8%
Schools	235,993,416	42.5%	239,272,493	42.4%	237,212,931	42.5%
ERAF	24,383,809	4.4%	19,190,512	3.4%	23,007,274	4.2%
Total	555,600,135	100.0%	564,723,778	100.0%	557,641,421	100.0%

 

Where can I find general information related to California cities, counties and special districts?

      League of California Cities
      California State Association of Counties
      California Special District Association:

What is ERAF?

It is a mechanism, enacted in July of 1992 by the State Legislature, to shift local tax revenues from cities, counties, and special districts to a state controlled Education Revenue Augmentation Fund. The state uses this fund to reduce their obligation to the schools. ERAF funds have been used by the State to help school and community college districts meet minimum funding requirements.

Why was ERAF created?

Proposition 13, the 1978 ballot measure capped property taxes in the state and thereby sharply diminished the property tax revenues that counties, cities, and special districts had to provide services. ERAF allowed the legislature to reallocate the property tax among local governments. In the midst of the recession in 1991-92, the State Legislature exercised this power to take city, county, and special district property taxes to fund the state government's obligation to support schools. The amount of the estimated shift for fiscal year 2010-11 and the prior two fiscal years from Marin County local agencies to ERAF is as shown below.

* Information provided by Roy Given, Director of Finance