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Where Your Property Tax Dollars Go

Find Out Where Your Basic Property Taxes Go

How Much Do Marin Property Owners Pay in Basic (1%) Property Taxes?

Pie Chart Showing Property Tax Distributed 5.3% to ERAF, 24.9% to the County, 13.9% to Cities, 13.1% to Special Districts, 42.8% to Schools

Find detailed information on your parcel by visiting the Property Tax Inquiry page.

Property Tax Questions and Answers

Basic Property Taxes Collected
Fiscal Year Net Taxes
Fiscal 2000-01 $309,948,562
Fiscal 2001-02 $340,557,006
Fiscal 2002-03 $364,761,766
Fiscal 2003-04 $390,423,821
Fiscal 2004-05 $417,532,564
Fiscal 2005-06 $454,131,515
Fiscal 2006-07 $492,620,139
Fiscal 2007-08 $525,539,470
Fiscal 2008-09 $555,600,135
Fiscal 2009-10 $564,723,778
Fiscal 2010-11 $557,641,421
Fiscal 2011-12 $561,516,421
Fiscal 2012-13 $566,153,886
Fiscal 2013-14 $587,788,877
Fiscal 2014-15 $622,044,403
Fiscal 2015-16 $665,726,061
Fiscal 2016-17 $708,004,365
Fiscal 2017-18 $745,282,371
Fiscal 2018-19 $785,544,869
Fiscal 2019-20 $825,166,673 
Fiscal 2020-21 $863,263,956 
Fiscal 2021-22  $897,193,167 

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 Agency
Entity 2019-20
Net Taxes
2019-20
Percent
2020-21
Net Taxes
2020-21
Percent
2021-22
Net Taxes
2021-22
Percent
County $205,224,205 24.9% $220,780,428 25.6%  $223,529,853 24.9% 
Cities $115,244,354
 
13.9% $121,841,300
 
14.0% $124,928,087 13.9%
Districts $108,052,544 13.1% $114,447,304
 
13.3% $117,488,112 13.1%
Schools $352,887,223
 
42.8% $369,369,780
 
42.8% $384,055,275 42.8%
ERAF $ 43,758,347
 
5.3% $ 36,825,144
 
4.3% $ 47,191,840 5.3%
Total $825,166,673
 
100.0% $863,263,956 100.0% $897,193,167 100.0%


 

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.

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.

County of Marin ERAF Contributions by Local Agencies
Fiscal Year 2019-20
Entity Gross Contribution Excess ERAF Net Contribution Percent
County $ 78,675,104
 
$49,398,255
 
$29,276,849
 
66.9%
Cities $ 19,634,504
 
$12,328,045
 
$ 7,306,459
 
16.7%
Districts $ 19,281,343
 
$12,106,304
 
$ 7,175,039
 
16.4%
Total $117,590,951
 
$73,832,604
 
$43,758,347
 
100.0%

County of Marin ERAF Contributions by Local Agencies
Fiscal Year 2020-21
Entity Gross Contribution Excess ERAF Net Contribution Percent
County $ 82,347,789
 
$57,708,567 $24,639,222 66.9%
Cities $ 20,565,198
 
$14,411,900 $ 6,153,298 16.7%
Districts $ 20,161,887
 
$14,129,263 $ 6,032,624 16.4%
Total $123,074,874
 
$86,249,730 $36,825,144 100.0%

County of Marin ERAF Contributions by Local Agencies
Fiscal Year 2021-22
Entity Gross Contribution Excess ERAF Net Contribution Percent
County $ 85,599,840 $54,014,517 $ 31,585,323 66.9%
Cities $ 21,337,633 $13,464,300 $   7,873,333 16.7%
Districts $ 20,957,813 $13,224,629 $   7,733,184 16.4%
Total $127,895,286 $80,703,446 $ 47,191,840
 
100.0%

Page last updated on May 14, 2025.