A Marin County Tax Tsunami is Coming.
How many new taxes will YOU be asked to pay?
In 2026, Marin County voters will face the largest wave of tax proposals in local history.
At the same time, special interest groups are pushing to make it even easier to pass new taxes – with loopholes that allow them to pass with only 50% + 1 vote instead of the long-standing two-thirds requirement. If you live in Marin County, your cost of living is about to get hit from every direction. Most voters will see 3-6 new tax measures on their ballot. Some neighborhoods may see even more.
This isn’t business as usual. This is a TAX TSUNAMI.
Many Tax Measures Already Identified
Record-breaking taxes, fees, and ballot measures are coming.
It’s time to get informed. Start now.
What’s Coming in 2026
A Partial List of Proposed Taxes, Bonds, and Fee Hikes
MarinHealth District
(Entire county except Novato)
- NEW 30 YEAR TAX: $0.14 per building square foot
- Placed on ballot via “citizen initiative” to lower approval to 50%+1
- Election: November 2026
Countywide Childcare Tax
- New 15-year Tax: $0.05 per building square foot
- Parcel tax: escalator
- Also using the 50%+1 “citizen initiative” loophole
- Election: November 2026
SMART Tax – Sonoma-Marin Area Rapid Transit
(applicable to entire county)
- 0.25% sales tax renewal
- Will last 30 years
- Also pushed via citizen initiative
- Election: June 2026
Muir Beach Community Services Area
- Fire Tax Measure – $386/parcel (a $100 increase)
- 10-year term
- Yearly increase tied to Bay Area COLA
- Election: June 2026
City of Mill Valley
- Municipal Services Parcel Tax renewal
- 10 year term
- 2% annual increase
- Election: November 2026
San Rafael Library Tax
- $74.18/ parcel (more for multi-unit)
- 9 year renewal
- Election: June 2026
San Rafael Paramedic Tax of Mill Valley
- Renewal with modest increase
- Election: November 2026
Marin County School District Tax Explosion
Novato Unified School District
- Parcel tax could immediately double to about $500 per parcel
- Election: June 2026
Kentfield School District
(including Greenbrae)
- Increase to nearly $2,000 per parcel
- Would be highest parcel tax in Marin & 2nd highest in CA
- 3% annual escalator
- Election: June 2026
Ross Valley School District
- Current $749 parcel tax could jump over 70% to nearly $1,300
- Then grow 3% every year
- 10 year term: unusually long for K-8 district
- Election: June 2026
Mill Valley School District
- $1,734 per parcel – an immediate 15% tax hike
- Unusually high 5%/year inflator
- Soon becomes Marin’s highest parcel tax
- Election: June 2026
Lagunitas School District
- $850 parcel tax renewal, growing 4% per year
- Special Election: January 2026
Tamalpais Union High School District
- $600+ per year parcel tax
- Grows 3% annually
- Election: November 2026
Larkspur Corte Madera School District
- $24.10/$100K assessed value
- 30-year bond measure for security & maintenance
- Election: June 2026
Reed Union School District
- 30-year Bond Measure
- $30/$100K assessed bond measure (=legal maximum)
- Election: November 2026
Miller Creek School District
- 30-year Bond Measure
- $30/$100,000 assessed value (=legal maximum)
- Election: November 2026
Additional Tax & Fee Increases (SOME MAY NOT NEED VOTER APPROVAL)
Town of Fairfax
- 0.25% sales tax hike to 9.25%
- Adds >$100 per household in Year 1
- Election: June 2026
City of San Rafael
Exploring…
- New development fees (no voter approval required)
- Paramedic parcel tax increase
- Election: November 2026
Santa Venetia
Flood Zone 9 & Unincorporated San Rafael
- New benefit assessment tax for levee improvements
- Amount and timing TBD
You should Know
Why This Matters to You
Each new parcel tax, sales tax, bond, or fee increase adds to:
For years, voters were told “just one more tax” would solve everything. Now those taxes are piling up on top of each other—with no end in sight. The idea that more taxes automatically increase your property values no longer holds true.
Affordability is at a breaking point.
Marin is already one of the most expensive places in America to live.
Stay Informed. Stay Prepared.
The Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers (C$T) is tracking local proposal taxes, bonds, and fee increases, so Marin residents like you can understand what’s coming – and how it will affect your pocketbook.
Sign up now to receive: