Tax Tsunami

Major Tax Tsunami Warning!

CST continues to sound the alarm about a California Tax Tsunami arriving with the November 2024 election, and that could persist for several election cycles until the cumulative impact on California families and businesses becomes unsupportable.

One big driver is PROP 5 on the November 2024 ballot, a proposal that asks voters to lower California’s constitutionally-set hurdle to pass many new taxes from 2/3 to 55%. If approved by a simple majority of voters statewide, PROP 5 becomes effective immediately, i.e., some tax measures on the November ballot that fail to get 2/3 approval but surpass 55% will get the windfall of a lower threshold. This prospect is precipitating a wave of ambitious November 2024 tax measures. Enacting so many big new taxes at once — and likely additional ones in 2026 — will have a very huge, lasting negative impact on the economics of living and conducting business in California.

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Tax Savings and Exemptions© 2024 ISO Republic. All rights reserved.

How to Apply for Tax & Fee Exemptions & Discounts

Filing Deadlines Soon!
Tax and Fee Exemptions & Discounts for

  • Seniors
  • Low & Middle Income
  • People w Disabilities & Medical Conditions
  • MMWD & PGE Customers Who are Overpaying

APPLY NOW! Filing Deadlines Soon!

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Tax & Fee Exemptions Discounts for Seniors Low & Middle Income & Others

APPLY NOW! Filing Deadlines Soon!

Beware: You May Need to Reapply Each Year
Don’t Miss Future Alerts Like This!

Because so many tax- and rate-payers miss out on cost-saving opportunities for which they may qualify, CO$T distributes this informational bulletin to Marin County taxpayer-voters each spring, updated to include new discounts and exemptions as well as increased thresholds for income-based exemptions and discounts.
Please read this entire post! You may be surprised to find you are eligible to pay less!

Time is short to submit applications for exemptions and discounts on an array of Marin add-on property taxes and agency fees as well as rates on essential services such as water and sewer. Residents who may qualify include those who are seniors, disabled, have low to MODERATE income, have larger families, and have special circumstances (e.g., medical conditions that require extra water or electricity).Many Marin individuals and families who consider themselves middle-class qualify for “low income” discounts: Income cutoffs are often at 80% of Marin’s median or the even more generous income levels used by HUD to determine eligibility for housing assistance. All income-based discounts have upward adjustments for family size.

Several agencies also provide financial incentives that are unrelated to income.
We tell you below how to find out which of the taxes, fees, and rates you pay offer exemptions and discounts, how and when to apply, and how to determine if you qualify.

HOW TO FIND OUT WHICH ENTITIES OFFER EXEMPTIONS AND DISCOUNTS

Marin County’s Property Tax Exemption webpage has a full list of the agencies whose taxes are collected via property tax bills and may offer discounts/exemptions. (Certain agencies, e.g., water, send a bill to the property owner or renter directly and offer discounts, some of which we describe further down this page.)

If you enter your parcel number in the box on the county’s exemption page, the website pulls up a list of all the agencies that bill YOU through your property tax bill. The list also identifies the specific agencies on your tax bill that offer exemptions. For each one, there is a telephone number for more details regarding the criteria and deadlines; in many instances, there is a hotlink to the application form.

BIG POTENTIAL SAVINGS ON SCHOOL PARCEL TAXES: Most school districts offer parcel tax exemptions for ALL seniors 65 and older; some offer exemptions for low-income and disabled taxpayers as well. On the county’s exemption page for your tax bill (see above), you’ll find that school parcel taxes are the largest exemptions and discounts available. Some school districts have exemption application deadlines around May 1 so you may need to act quickly. School income- and disability-based discounts require annual filing. School parcel tax exemptions for seniors need only be applied for once, though you may need to file a new application if the person listed on your tax bill changes. Read your tax bill (or tax exemption page) carefully. You are likely paying school parcel taxes to multiple districts (e.g., K-8 and high school). If so, you must file separate exemption applications for each district to maximize your savings. Note that CA law doesn’t permit school bond tax measures to offer senior exemptions or discounts, an important fact about which many taxpayer-voters are unaware.
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Mark your calendar! Reapply annually for any expiring exemptions!
Several non-school discounts and exemptions are available, most of which require annual refiling or verification. Listed below are some of the more financially significant ones offered.

There is a low-income senior exemption (65+) for the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority parcel tax. YOU MUST REAPPLY EVERY YEAR to reconfirm proof of income level. Your application must be postmarked by June 30. Learn how to apply here. Don’t assume you are ineligible! Many middle-income households qualify. The latest posted income limit (updated annually) is $104,400 for a 1-person household; $119,300 for two people; $134,200 for three; $149,100 for four; and $161,050 for five; these limits are typically increased in early summer. This tax is assessed on building square footage. To ensure you’re not being overcharged, you should also verify that the official records show that the square footage of your property is accurate. If not, contact the Assessor’s office.

Note that some agencies such as the MWPA do not acknowledge receipt or approval of your exemption/discount application. Consequently, you should keep proof of all your exemption/discount applications and then carefully review your tax bill AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE IT. If you can prove that your valid application was not reflected on your tax bill, immediately contact the agency to ask for an adjustment. Advocating on behalf of taxpayers, CO$T is urging agencies to acknowledge receipt of each application and inform the taxpayer in writing whether it has been approved.
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Marin Municipal Water District has several water bill discount programs listed here that are based on income, certain medical conditions, or having internal fire suppression sprinklers. Most people are unaware of MMWD’s generous income-based fee waiver program, which is open to every household that qualifies (not just seniors). Both meter-size-based charges on your water bill — totaling hundreds of dollars annually — are completely waived from the bills of qualifying families. Here are the income caps as of July 2023: $83,280 for a one-person household; $95,160 for 2; $107,040 for 3; $118,920 for 4; and increasing stepwise up to $157,000 for 8. Those caps will be raised and posted on MMWD’s website when the HUD data on which they are based is released in mid-May.
In response to customer complaints about its sizeable fixed fees tied to the diameter of the customer’s meter (incoming pipe), MMWD is also telling customers that they can save money by swapping out residential meters that are over 5/8″ in size. (Check your water bill for your meter size.) The charges for meter downsizing are listed in item 1.2 in the district’s rate/fee schedule. Make sure you ask what it will cost if you have to re-upsize, if, for example, you have to install interior fire suppression sprinklers. For more information, call MMWD at 415-945-1400 or email customerservice@marinwater.org

All residential customers who have interior fire suppression sprinklers are eligible for lower meter-size-based charges if they apply for MMWD’s capital maintenance fee reduction program.

In addition, there are many rebate programs related to water efficiency product purchases.

More Cost-Saving Opportunities Below

A variety of discounts and exemptions are offered by other agencies that may be on your property tax bill or may be billing you directly. Some are only available to seniors. Some use a “very low income” standard, meaning not as many customers qualify as do under the “low-income” standard used by MWPA. The most sizeable of these miscellaneous discounts and exemptions are those offered by water and sanitation districts.

Ross Valley Sanitary District

offers a low-income sewer charge assistance program with generous income thresholds similar to those of MWPA. Many moderate-income home and condo owners may be surprised to learn they qualify for a 25% discount on the RVSD sewer charge fee that appears on the tax bill. Apply before the June 30 deadline!

Novato and Mill Valley Sanitary Districts

offer a low-income sewer charge assistance program for those who have enrolled in PG&E’s CARE Program (which has much lower income caps than those used by RVSD, MMWD, and MWPA). Qualifying single-family residences receive a 10-15% discount from Novato Sanitary on their sewer tax; City of Mill Valley’s sewer discount is 25%.

Other Sewer / Sanitation Districts.

There are many other sanitation districts in Marin. Check with your local agency for discounts. Also, several sanitary agencies offer financial assistance with sewer lateral expenses.

North Marin Water District

offers a low-income discount of $15 monthly for applicants who are enrolled in PGE’s Care Program.

Stinson Beach County Water District

has a low-income discount program. For more information and a copy of the form call 415-868-1333.

Mill Valley Municipal Services Tax

– Low-income seniors are exempt. For more information and a copy of the form, call 415-384-4800 or email publicworks@cityofmillvalley.org

San Anselmo Municipal Services and library parcel tax

– There is an exemption for families who qualify for PG&E CARE Program. Please call 415-258-4678 to request an application.

Library taxes – Many libraries in Marin are part of the Marin County Free Library system, which offers a senior exemption that must be renewed annually by June 1. Some other libraries also offer library parcel tax exemptions.

There are several other exemptions and discounts not listed here.

Check the county exemption website to ensure you know about all of them. We are not responsible for any omissions or errors in this public service message.

You CAN lower your PG&E bill. Here’s how!

First, look into the several low-income discount programs PG&E offers. Second, learn about how the time-of-use plans impact you. PG&E automatically transitioned residential customers to the time-of-use plan back in 2021, which may have RAISED your bill unduly. You might achieve a lower bill if you change your habits: e.g., what time of day you use energy-intensive appliances. Or you may get a lower bill by changing your PG&E rate plan to the one that’s more cost-effective for your usage pattern. This is easy to do. Click here, then click the “compare rate plans now” button on the right side of the page to explore whether choosing a different rate plan will prevent a higher bill or lower what you’re already paying. Beware though, that your utility bill could change significantly in coming months owing to legislation that greenlighted the implementation of new fixed fees, which will be applied to the bills of everyone except those who are very low income.
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$1 Billion Here $20 Billion There

FIRST WAVE OF TAX TSUNAMI ON NOVEMBER HORIZON

A tsunami of tax measures is on California’s horizon, with the leading edge breaking on our shores in November 2024. This could be an inflection point, with significantly higher taxes — particularly at the local and regional level — exacerbating unaffordability for millions of residents and businesses alike.


Across California, agencies are struggling to fund promised services while protecting their employees and our state government faces a California’s massive deficit.

Raising taxes is the go to solution. The rub: more voters are resisting higher taxes, unless they aren’t on the hook for paying them. Millionaire taxes remain popular. Apartment renters may be amenable to taxing property owners if they don’t make the connection to their own cost of living.

Enter stage left: ACA-1, a constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot.


ACA-1 is supported by the California League of Cities and opposed by California’s Chamber of Commerce, Association of Realtors, and leading business and individual taxpayers’ organizations. If passed, ACA-1 will lower the threshold to pass many new taxes from 2/3 to 55%, particularly if the tax measure states it will fund affordable housing or infrastructure (which could encompass a wide swath of tax proposals). If ACA-1 passes, it is instantaneously effective, lowering the threshold for tax measures that are on that same November ballot. This will spur a tidal wave of bond and other tax measures starting in November 2024 and, if ACA-1 passes, extending through 2026 and beyond until tax exhaustion peaks.


Per Dr. Gary Galles, economics professor at Pepperdine University: “ACA 1 would sharply lower Proposition 13’s two-thirds voter threshold to 55% for local special taxes to fund ‘infrastructure’ so vaguely defined that virtually anything could qualify.”


Bond measures typically last 30 years. So the impact of ACA-1 cannot be unwound for a generation even if it is repealed or modified in the next decade.


CO$T is currently tracking a number of local and regional measures that could be on the November ballot and will keep you posted. The first big one moving forward is a Bay Area regional tax measure that would greenlight the Bay Area Housing Finance Authority (BAHFA) issuing up to $20 billion in bonds (which could cost taxpayers twice that with interest). This is projected to add $120 in property taxes per $1 million assessed valuation over the bond’s 30-year life.


As detailed in our letter to Marin County Supervisors, this is a very expensive, inefficient way of funding a small amount of affordable housing and obligating local governments (= taxpayers) to provide in perpetuity a host of consequent, unfunded services and subsidies.


The BAHFA bond could be on the same ballot as a second try at passing a $1 billion Tam Union High School District tax very similar to Measure A that voters rebuffed in the March election. Tam Union’s board will likely hire this month consultants and pollsters to assess how to get more Yes votes in a retry.


Several Marin cities are also looking to place bond and sales tax measures before voters in November. If taxpayers are to avoid being drowned by the tsunami – or if they are concerned about the fates of their children, friends and neighbors — they are going to have to start being selective. COST will also be selective, using our existing Sensible Tax Criteria and developing new Bond Guidelines and Guardrails to screen tax proposals.


While the outlook is concerning, it is possible that voters will reject ACA-1. It is disturbing that Marin County supervisors aren’t waiting for the November vote.

They will consider on April 2 (agenda item 6) approving money to create an affordable housing two year Fixed Term Principal Planner position at a cost of $450,000. This person would oversee and direct Marin’s portion of the not-yet-approved BAHFA bond program.


This reminds us of Tam Union High School District, which many months before the ill-fated vote on Measure A, also hired a bond project manager as well as spending over $7 million on developing plans for large new building complexes at Redwood and Tam high schools. It’s fiscally irresponsible to spend our tax dollars gambling on the outcome of a future election.


Email your Supervisor NOW. Join us in urging Marin Supervisors to (1)Vote no on hiring an affordable housing Principle Planner at least until voters approve the BAHFA measure and (2)seriously consider opting out of the regional tax measure as not in the best interests of Marin County residents.


If you are concerned about the tax tsunami, please consider a donation to COST today to help fund our advocacy on behalf of Marin taxpayer-voters.


Click here to read COST’s letter to Marin County’s Board of Supervisors to learn more about our objections to the BAHFA bond measure and why Marin should reject this proposal as unduly costly, financially inefficient, and fiscally irresponsible.

COST Video Forum Congressional District 2 California

This Q&A webinar, hosted by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the candidates running for the United States Congress District 2 seat. Hear from incumbent Congressman Jared Huffman and challengers Chris Coulombe and Tief Gibbs, in this impartial forum moderated by the Honorable Leah T. Wilson, Executive Director of the California Bar Association.

This Forum features all the candidates who filed financial reports with the Federal Election Commission by January 29, 2024 (i.e., those who already have some campaign funding).

Voters should have already received ballots for the March 5 election by the date of this event.

Attendees are invited to submit questions in advance as well as during the forum. The outcome of this election impacts everyone in the county and across the United States.

To sign up for this informational assembly and to suggest questions in advance, please go to our website at costmarin.org.

Be smart! This election is important!
Get educated before you vote.

 

U.S. Congress District 2 Candidates Forum

U.S. Congress District 2 Candidates Forum
7 p.m. on Zoom | Monday, February 12

This Q&A webinar, hosted by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers, provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the candidates running for the United States Congress District 2 seat. Hear from incumbent Congressman Jared Huffman and challengers Chris Coulombe and Tief Gibbs in this impartial forum moderated by the Honorable Leah T. Wilson, Executive Director of the California Bar Association.




This Forum features all the candidates who filed financial reports with the Federal Election Commission by January 29, 2024 (i.e., those who already have some campaign funding).

Voters should have already received ballots for the March 5 election by the date of this event.

Attendees are invited to submit questions in advance as well as during the forum. The outcome of this election impacts everyone in the county and across the United States.

To sign up for this informational assembly and to suggest questions in advance, please go to our website at costmarin.org.

Be smart! This election is important!
Get educated before you vote.



CO$T Hosts Non-Partisan, Impartially Moderated Candidate Webinars as a voter education community service.

Your Contribution Funds These Valuable Community Events

COST Zoom Forum for Marin County District 2 Video

CO$T hosts a Zoom Forum featuring candidates for the upcoming District 2 Supervisor seat in Marin County.

Vote NO on Measure A

Defeat Unfair Tam Union Measure A


CO$T ANNOUNCES
INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN TO DEFEAT
TAMALPAIS UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT’S
$1 BILLION TAX ON MARCH 2024 BALLOT

Get Involved!

A campaign committed to defeating TUHSD’s unfair and unnecessary billion-dollar tax measure is now underway, thanks to support from COST and concerned citizens.

VICTORY IS ACHIEVABLE IF YOU HELP!

Volunteer! Donate!

Learn more at
NoOnATUHSD.com

CO$T Submitted the Argument against Measure A appearing in the Voter Guide for the March 5, 2024 Election:

Vote NO On Measure A.

It is a $1.04 BILLION tax that increases inequality and does not deliver what our students need most.

Measure A’s biggest expenditure is an unnecessary, non-essential, gold-plated cafeteria. No money goes to reduce overcrowded classrooms, close the huge educational achievement gap for low-income students, or attract and retain top teachers.
Marin values diversity, economic justice, fairness, and community engagement. Here is how Measure A falls short of these fundamental principles:
* The Gold-Plated Cafeteria: Tamalpais Union High School District rates the proposed $106 million cafeteria at Redwood High School nonessential. Considering steep enrollment declines and students’ preference for lunch off-campus, the “bill” for this five- star venue is excessive.
* Lacks Transparency: Tamalpais Union High School District asks voters to approve a $517 million bond. Their ballot question doesn’t tell you that with interest payments the TRUE cost to voters is $1.04 Billion; nor does it state the tax increases every year for 30 years.
* Inequitable: Archie Williams High School receives less than 15% of the bond revenues and will not benefit from any major project. AWHS area households have a lower median income than the rest of TUHSD. AWHS residents’ taxes will subsidize projects for Redwood and Tamalpais High Schools.
* Unfair: Those least able to afford an increase in property taxes are obligated to pay. There are no exemptions or discounts for low income homeowners, seniors, or disabled. Measure X does nothing to prevent landlords from passing on the tax’s costs to renters.
* Misguided: Millions of dollars already spent on architects and political consultants should have gone into classrooms instead of an unapproved bond measure.

We value education and want our students to thrive. Our community IS willing to spend money that directly improves the education of ALL our students. Measure A does NOT do this.

We should not pay for a gold-plated cafeteria, more unfairness, and more inequality.

Please. Vote NO on Measure A.

Signers:

JULIA VIOLICH
TUHSD Mountain Bike Coach, Marin County Bicycle Coalition Director

MATTHEW BROWN
Former San Anselmo Mayor

JAMES H. ANDREWS
Former Corte Madera Councilmember & Mayor

RICHARD SHORTALL
Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection District President

DOUG KELLY
Ross Valley Sanitary District Director, Former San Anselmo Councilmember

COST Election Forum District 2 2024


Sign Up Now

This Q&A webinar hosted by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the four candidates running for the Marin County Board of Supervisors seat representing District 2. Hear from all four candidates: Brian Colbert, Heather McPhail Sridharan, Ryan O’Neil, and Gabe Paulson, (Click on their names to check out their campaign websites.) They are are competing to fill a seat that’s open owing to the retirement of current Supervisor Katie Rice. This is the first time in decades that District 2 voters have a chance to fill a seat not occupied by a current incumbent. Voters will receive ballots by mail in early February for the March 5 election.
The outcome of this election affects EVERYONE in the county. The Board of Supervisors will likely be making important decisions impacting housing supply, affordability, and local control; homelessness; rent regulation; climate change initiatives; flood control; wildfire risk; open space; local taxes and fees; and other hot topics.

CO$T is pleased that this impartial forum will once again be moderated by the Marin IJ’s political columnist, Dick Spotswood. Attendees are invited to submit questions when they register as well as during the forum.
Get educated before you vote!
CO$T is pleased to host this valuable forum as part of our educational and community service mission.

COST Election Forum District 4


Sign Up Now
This Q&A webinar hosted by the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the two candidates running for the Marin County Board of Supervisors District 4 seat. Hear from incumbent Supervisor Dennis Rodoni and candidate Francis Drouillard. Voters will receive ballots by mail in early February for the March 5 election.
CO$T is pleased that this impartial forum will once again be moderated by the Marin IJ’s political columnist, Dick Spotswood. Attendees are invited to submit questions in advance as well as during the forum. The outcome of this election impacts everyone in the county. The Board of Supervisors will likely be making important decisions about increasing housing supply and affordability, homelessness and rent regulation, climate change initiatives, flood control, wildfire risk mitigation, and other hot topics.
Get educated before you vote!
CO$T is pleased to host this valuable forum as part of our educational and community service mission.
CO$T Hosts Non-Partisan, Impartially Moderated
Candidate Webinars as a voter education community service.

Protest Higher Garbage Bills!

Tell Local Government:Give Us Back our Money!Represent Our Interests!

Refuse collection bills throughout Marin are high and increase every year under franchise agreements awarded by individual local governments to private companies. You don’t get to vote on the rates. After paying a consultant to review the rate proposal, our local elected officials rubberstamp the suggested revenue hike at a perfunctory rate hearing.

How well are the elected officials representing YOUR interests? Does this process protect you? A big chunk of your refuse payment travels through your garbage collection company directly to the general fund of your local government in “franchise fees” and “road impact” fees without genuine fiscal accountability. The refuse company (e.g., Marin Sanitary Service, Recology, Bay Cities, Mill Valley Refuse) passes through the “fees” demanded by local governments for their costs supposedly incurred in this arrangement. But your local government doesn’t justify its fee demand and doesn’t perform a cost of service analysis for its share of the money that ultimately comes out of your pocket. Why? .

If you live in unincorporated Marin, the County’s cut from your Marin Sanitary Service bill is nearly 23%. In Larkspur, it’s 17.17%. San Rafael collects 14.79%, including almost $3 million in “franchise fees” (purportedly to cover the cost of administering the contract) and almost $1.5 million in “other agency fees” (ostensibly to fix roads damaged by garbage trucks). To see the specific figures by city/town/county click here and scroll to page 4.

At Fairfax’s November 1, 2023 rate hearing, Council rapidly approved a 4.68% 2024 rate hike that included 13.17% in fees that pass through to the Town itself.

This sure looks like a local tax that residents didn’t get to vote on.

Or it might be an essential service fee for which you did not receive a proposition 218 hearing notice and the right to protest.

A recent California Supreme Court decision, Zolly v City of Oakland, suggests that either of these might be the case. Local agencies should proceed cautiously in pocketing refuse fees.

2024 Refuse Rate Hearings Happening NOW! Speak Up!

Speak up at the rate hearing in your locale (most effective) or email your council/board members. Demand that they represent YOUR interests by eliminating the franchise and road impact fees, eliminating the conflict of interest, and asking tough questions about refuse collection company’s costs at the rate hearing.

The table below shows the schedule for coming rate hearings for several local agencies that are in MSS’s “Franchisor Group.” The table also shows the percentage of your refuse bill that flows back to those same agencies — and the magnitude of the proposed rate hike. If you don’t see your city on the list below, reach out to your council/board to find out the hearing date and where to get information about the rate hikes. Share whatever you discover with us so we can continue to get the word out in future communications. Message us here

Marin Sanitary Service Franchisor Group Rate Hearings

San Anselmo – 11/13 – 5.95% Rate Increase – 12.54% Pass-Thru

Larkspur – 11/16 – 5.96% Rate Increase – 17.17% Pass-Thru

Las Galinas Valley – 11/16, & 12/67 – 6.45% Increase – 4.93% Pass-Thru

Ross- 12/14 – 6.39% Rate Increase – 13.56% Pass-Thru

San Rafael – Postponed – 5.69% Increase – 14.79% Pass-Thru

County of Marin – Date TBD – 6.33% Increase – 22.90% Pass-Thru
(West Marin Recology Rate hearing likely to be on the same day)

Questions to Ask Your Local Officials

When You Speak or Email
Have you examined Zolly v City of Oakland and considered making changes to your approaches to avert legal peril?
Has anyone recently looked at whether your various fees hidden in refuse rates are not in fact taxes requiring voter approval under either Prop 26 or a fee requiring a rigorous Prop 218 rate review?
Where are the cost of service analyses to support the exact dollar amount of the fees you receive via the refuse collection payments?

What About Novato?

Refuse collection in Novato is performed by Recology, under a franchise agreement with Novato Sanitary District. In 2022, Novato considered taking over responsibility for administering the Recology franchise, as a way to boost city revenue to cover other services (which suggests that other cities do in fact use refuse customers’ franchise fee pass-throughs to fund general expenses). Novato backed off that idea after determining this would result in an unacceptably large increase in refuse bills and the need to include service to unincorporated Novato..

Recology collects a fee from Novato customers that it passes through to the NSD, a Joint Powers Authority. The JPA fee is relatively minimal compared to those collected by members of the above-discussed MSS Franchisors Group. However, the JPA fee is increasing sharply.

At its November 13, 2023 rate hearing, NSD approved a 7.19% increase in refuse customer bills for 2024. The consultant report, pages 58-59, notes that the increase would have been only 6.24% without the sharp increase in the JPA passs-through fee.

FIX PROP 19 PROVISIONS MANDATING REASSESSMENT OF INHERITED HOMES

FIX PROP 19 PROVISIONS MANDATING
REASSESSMENT OF INHERITED HOMES

Many CA Heirs are Now Forced
to Sell the Family Home!
We Need YOUR Signature to
Amend Prop 19!
DOWNLOAD PETITION NOW
CO$T is helping with a statewide effort to fix 2020’s Proposition 19, which voters narrowly approved. People were largely unaware that voting YES would result in the reassessment of inherited homes and farms. Many children and grandchildren are now forced to sell their family home because they can’t afford the much higher property tax, This has upended the financial future and family integrity of many, many Californians.

Together we can fix this problem. We’re gathering signatures on an official petition to qualify an initiative measure for the November 2024 statewide ballot. The measure would repeal provisions that hike the property tax of inherited homes and farms while leaving the rest of Prop 19 intact.
Download, print, sign and submit the official petition NOW! Print as many as you can use. Sign one yourself and then collect as many signatures as you can from your family, friends and neighbors who are CA registered voters.

YOUR HELP IS KEY to getting enough signatures to qualify this initiative to appear on the November 2024 ballot.

Message us if you are willing to help with signature gathering. We can provide printed materials; direct interested signers to your doorstep; provide locales at which to solicit signatures, and team you up with signature gathering partners. It will take a collective effort to succeed! Let’s make sure Marin contributes more than its share of signatures!

DOWNLOAD! SIGN! CIRCULATE!
Follow petition instructions precisely to ensure signatures count.
Act now! The statewide effort to fix prop 19 requires more than a million signatures. We are asking everyone to send in the signed petitions as soon as possible but no later than Tuesday, January 16. The return address is in the pdf with the petition, and a list of drop-off locations is underway. Message us if you want to drop off petitions for us to mail for you.
VOLUNTEER! SIGNATURE GATHERING IS EASY.
Volunteer to be a Petition Hub! Email the petition to your friends.

Dick Spotswood: Tam Union bond proposal promises to test taxpayer patience

By DICK SPOTSWOOD | spotswood@comcast.net |
October 7, 2023 at 10:50 a.m.

Tamalpais Union High School District is aiming to place a facilities improvement bond on the March 5 primary election ballot.

The district website indicates the measure, including interest and principal, will cost residents over $1 billion. Of that, $517 million is for principal. The remainder is debt service incurred over the bond’s 30-year term.

If passed, it will levy a real estate parcel tax of $30 per $100,000 of a property’s assessed value.

One billion in bonding costs might be the largest total ever requested in Marin. It calls to mind the quote attributed to the late Illinois Republican Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen. Of the federal budget, Dirksen said, “A billion dollars here, a billion dollars there, pretty soon you’re talking about real money,”

School bond passage requires a 55% supermajority. TUHSD encompasses Ross Valley, Larkspur, Greenbrae, Corte Madera and Southern Marin. The high schools include Archie Williams, Redwood, Tamalpais and the small special-needs campuses of San Andreas and Tamiscal.

The Redwood Bark, a student newspaper, reports, “Bond proceeds will go for mechanical, electrical, plumbing infrastructure upgrades and new arts, music and cafeteria buildings.” The exterior of the district’s Larkspur headquarters building will also be modernized.

Before a delay related to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was estimated that the cost of every item listed in TUHSD’s long-range facilities master plan would be $394 million. Trustees were recently startled to learn that construction expenses are now $517 million, a 25% increase. [Read Full Article Here]



CO$T is urging TUHSD take the following actions:

– Reduce and refocus the bond measure on the small set of truly urgent projects.

– Disclose the REAL cost of the over $1 billion tax measure in the 75 word summary statement that voters see on the ballot.

– Await voter approval before spending any more district funds on the bond project. Trustees have already contractually committed over $6 million to architects and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for political consultants, polling, mailers to voters promoting the proposal’s benefits, and a new staffer hired to manage the bond project.

Voice your opinion by emailing TUHSD’s Trustees or speaking at a hybrid format meeting.
Upcoming meetings are at 6PM Tuesday October 10, October 24 (when the agenda will include the latest polling on the proposed tax measure), and November 14 (when Trustees will likely vote on a resolution to place the bond tax measure on the March ballot).


Email TAM Union Directors & cc info@costmarin.net
Please don’t forget to cc us! This keeps us in the loop.


Karen Loebbaka, President
kloebbaka@tamdistrict.org

Leslie Harlander, Clerk
lharlander@tamdistrict.org

Cynthia Roenisch
croenisch@tamdistrict.org

Kevin Saavedra
ksaavedra@tamdistrict.org

Emily Uhlhorn
euhlhorn@tamdistrict.org

Vote NO on ACA-13, ACA-1 & AB-151

URGENT!  Act TODAY!
Tell Damon Connolly & Mike McGuire:
Vote NO on ACA-13, ACA-1 & AB-151
WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW! The California legislature is about to light a three alarm fire that will torch the financial future of California’s taxpayers and businesses.  Rather than reducing unsustainable public expenditures and pension liabilities in response to huge deficits, Sacramento is continuing business as usual while INCREASING the funds flow to special interests.  YOU will pay for this with a historic and continual surge in additional taxes starting in 2025 and likely continuing in almost every subsequent election.  The vehicle for this:  Enacting ACA-1 and ACA-13, which lower the hurdle to pass new taxes.   This is a critical juncture — a potential turning point — with  ACA-1 and ACA-13 frontally attacking taxpayer protections and taking the boldest steps so far toward dismantling Proposition 13. Key votes in the legislature could come as soon as TODAY!  Demand that our “representatives” Assembly Member Damon Connolly and Senator Mike McGuire stop kowtowing to special interests and represent US by voting NO on ACA-1, ACA-13 and AB-151. 
Call Your Representative   – Calls are most effective
Damon Connolly (916) 319-2012
Mike McGuire (916) 651-4002

Email Your Representative
Assemblymember.Connolly@Assembly.CA.gov
Senator.McGuire@Senate.CA.gov

NO on ACA-13
ACA-13 is a devious attempt to stop the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act from passing when it’s on the ballot in November 2024. The TPGA is a constitutional amendment spearheaded by Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.  It will restore the 2/3 vote required to pass many local taxes (which was eroded to 50% by a legally-sanctioned workaround) and strengthen requirements that all new taxes be subject to voter approval of a truthfully-worded ballot measure.  ACA-13 makes it harder to pass citizen initiatives and is surgically crafted to tank the TPGA by raising the hurdle to a two-thirds vote to pass, instead of the simple majority vote that has been required for all other constitutional amendments.  CalMatters slammed ACA-13 as part of a broad anti-democratic effort to undermine citizen initiatives.   If passed by the legislature, ACA-13 would be on the March 2024 ballot, in time to raise the hurdle for voters to pass the TPGA in the November 2024 election.

NO on ACA 1 
ACA-1 is a direct attack on Proposition 13 that would remove the taxpayer protection of the two-thirds vote of the electorate required to pass local special taxes. Under ACA-1. local taxes and bonds that help fund “infrastructure” and public housing would pass with just 55% of the vote instead of the current 66.67%.  We believe that local governments will view the infrastructure clause as lowering the threshold for passage of most multi-purpose tax measures.  ACA-1 makes it much easier to raise taxes.  Your taxes will likely go up after every election.  Connolly says he plans to vote YES.  Let’s see if a flood of your calls to his office and McGuire’s prompts a rethink.

NO on AB-151
California’s state prison guards already receive salary and pensions significantly greater than any other state.  AB-151 will further boost the outlay to this special interest group whose political contributions apparently yield greater clout than that of ordinary citizens.  This would result in over $1 billion (!) in additional spending over the next three years.  With state spending already vastly exceeding tax revenues, tell our State Senator Mike McGuire to vote NO.  Unfortunately, this bill already passed the Assembly, with Connolly voting YES.

NO ON ACA 13!!!

Please call in at 1:30PM TODAY 8/23/23 to the CA Assembly Election committee members to vote NO on  ACA 13.   It must be stopped.  It is a blatant attempt to limit citizen’s rights to pass Constitutional amendments in CA.  To understand what “our” representatives are about to do to us all, read Dan Walters’ article.  If this passes, it will block an effort to retain and restore taxpayer protections AND sets a dangerous new precedent that can prevent future citizen initiatives from amending the CA constitution.

HJTA sounded the alarm and tells you what to do:
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Urgent Action Alert: Call in to the committee hearing at 1:30 today and say NO on ACA 13

We have an urgent request for all HJTA members and supporters to call in to the Assembly Elections Committee hearing TODAY at 1:30 p.m. to express strong opposition to ACA 13. It’s a proposed constitutional amendment that attacks Proposition 13 and the initiative process by making it harder to pass all constitutional amendments that protect taxpayers.

Here’s the call-in information:
Day: TODAY, Wednesday, August 23
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Call-in number: (877) 692-8957 and PIN: 1315444

It’s easy — All you have to do is say your name, that you’re a taxpayer, and NO on ACA 13.

You’ll be able to listen to the hearing on the phone and you’ll be prompted to press 1 and then 0 to enter the queue.

Thank you for taking this important action to protect Proposition 13 and taxpayers!

Sincerely,

Jon Coupal
President, HJTA

Improving Student Outcomes Should Be Job 1 at Tam Union

Improving Student Outcomes
Should Be Job 1 at Tam Union
CO$T Urges TUSHD

Implement Merit Based Superintendent Pay

Pause Spending on Projects
that Aren’t Yet Voter-Approved

Trim Plans for 2024 Bond Measure
Costing Taxpayers Over $1 Billion
At its August 8 meeting, Tamalpais Union High School District’s trustees are set to approve a new 3-year contract and an 8-year salary schedule for the district’s superintendent, Dr. Tara Taupier.  Base salary in the current year (step 2) would start at $286,633, reaching $342,255 in step year 8 “provided she has earned an overall satisfactory annual evaluation.”  In recent years Taupier’s total compensation was boosted another 31% by pension and healthcare benefits and “other income”.  This suggests that under the proposed salary schedule Taupier’s total compensation will be around $375,00 in the current school year and $448,000 in the final year.

CO$T believes that school superintendents’ long-term pay trajectory should be tied to meeting specific performance targets, consistent with sound management practices.

The learning and opportunity gap between socio-economically advantaged whites and other students is significant at TUHSD (which includes Redwood, Tamalpais and Archie Williams high schools).  This shows up in a variety of metrics shown on pages 9-22 of the district’s 2023  LCAP  (an annual document filing required by the state).    Recent years’ trends are not encouraging.  Meaningful progress on closing the achievement gap would be a very worthy goal.

Meanwhile,  the district has moved unrestricted dollars (that could be used for teaching and student support) to its capital fund to pay for advance work on a major overhaul of the district’s facilities.  Tam Union trustees already approved  spending $5 million for architects and $422,00 for a solar project consultant.  This money is being spent in advance of Tam Union District voters deciding whether to tax themselves over $1 billion to fund the projects and bond interest. That’s a heck of a lot of money.  If voters reject the proposed March 2024 bond measure,  the money spent on architects, consultants and the like can’t be recovered and used to bolster student  outcomes.

TUHSD’s polling (paid for with our tax dollars to test which promises and arguments maximize voter support) shows that voters may pass the tax measure by a small margin IF the ballot language prominently features capital projects that update science and computer labs and fix leaky roofs. In fact, one of the two most expensive projects using the bond measure proceeds replaces the cafeteria at Redwood for $42 million.

CO$T urges TUHSD’s trustees to (1)Reject the proposed eight-year salary schedule until they can tie it to goals that improve student outcomes and (2)Cease approving new contracts, cost overruns and other payments related to capital projects until the bond measure is approved by voters (3)Downsize the contemplated bond measure and refocus it on projects most likely to improve student outcomes and preparedness for post high school endeavors.

MMWD & CO$T Settle Water Rate Lawsuit

Joint Statement by Marin Water and the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers (CO$T)
For Release – May 4, 2023

Marin Municipal Water District and the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers (CO$T) and other individually named plaintiffs have reached a settlement in the 2019 case of the Coalition of Sensible Taxpayers., et al v. Marin Municipal Water District. The agreement settles a lawsuit over water rates that Marin Water adopted in 2019. Both sides agree it is prudent to move forward for the benefit of all Marin Water customers.

The dispute centered on certain fixed fees in customers’ water bills that vary according to the size of their water meters. CO$T alleged that the Watershed Management Fee and the Capital Maintenance Fee in the 2019-2023 fixed fee schedule were not compliant with the law’s requirement that water charges be proportional to the cost of service. Marin Water disputed that claim and maintains that these charges were legally adopted and complied with Proposition 218.

The settlement will only become effective if the Marin Water Board of Directors adopts certain modifications to its Watershed Management Fee and its Capital Maintenance Fee, which are being considered as part of its current rate-setting process. Marin Water staff and its rate consultant are proposing changes to the fixed fees to better reflect customer demand and to help reduce the burden of fixed fees on low water users, which presents an opportunity to improve the District’s rate structure and address issues of concern to CO$T.

Marin Water is in the process of completing its proposal for the next four-year rate cycle effective July 1, 2023, for which it will be mailing notices and holding a public hearing in May 2023, as required under Proposition 218. As part of this rate proposal, Marin Water would cease to charge fixed fees to single-family and duplex residential customers using the disputed meter-size factors. If the new rates are adopted as proposed, Marin Water would assess its Capital Maintenance Fee and Base Service Charge Fee (both fixed fees) using new factors for single-family residential and duplexes that are more clearly tied to water usage. The fixed fees would comprise a declining percentage of aggregate customer bills over the 4-year rate period. Marin Water is also proposing to eliminate the meter-size-based fixed charge Watershed Management Fee and instead more closely tie this charge to each customer’s water usage.

Both sides agree this approach is fair, promotes conservation, and better ties individual customer bills to water usage, thereby addressing the central complaint of CO$T’s lawsuit. Settling the lawsuit in advance of the December 2023 trial date reduces the risk to both sides of an adverse legal decision and ongoing higher litigation costs.

CO$T and Marin Water recognize the need for the district to focus on increasing its investment in infrastructure, a more secure water supply, and wildfire mitigation work on the Mt. Tam Watershed – as well as rebuilding financial reserves. Resolving this lawsuit better positions Marin Water to pursue these important priorities and makes ratepayers more confident that their water bills will be fair and equitable.

Marin Municipal Water District Proposes New Rate Structure, Higher Rates

If you’re a customer of Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD), you should have received notice of proposed rates for the upcoming 4-year period (July 2023 through June 2027). California law requires that this notification be sent at least 45 days in advance of a public hearing on the new rates, which will occur on May 16. Under the rate proposal, most residents will see a big jump in water bills in 2023-24, with somewhat smaller increases in the next three years. These increases are needed to cover inflation, the beginning of investments to increase our water supply, rebuild financial reserves that were largely depleted by the prior board over the last two years, and also compensate for the lost revenue that has occurred due to customer conservation over the last two years.

MMWD’s proposal includes a significant shift in the rate structure vs what’s currently in place. We think it is more fair.

The new structure will rely less on big fixed service charges while charging more for actual water consumption. The cost per gallon will rise substantially in each usage tier; the water allowance in tier 1 will be lower; and the extra water allowance in tier 1 during summer months vs winter will be eliminated. Drought surcharges are also proposed, making water usage even more costly when reservoir levels drop.

Over the past four years, CO$T has been critical of MMWD’s over-reliance on fixed fees, which unfairly burden those who conserve.  We have advocated for water bills tied entirely to usage. We legally challenged the 2019-2023 fixed fee metric that wasn’t linked to water usage; this subsequently became a class action suit.

Under the current new proposal, MMWD’s meter-size-based fixed fee for watershed management will be eliminated. For the other two similar fixed charges (basic service fee plus capital maintenance fee), there will be less difference than currently in the amount paid by customers with different meter sizes. This is owing to a new fixed fee metric for 2023- 2027 that better reflects the extent to which larger meter customers use more water.
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What does this mean for you and your bill?

Your water bills will be increasing, but the exact amount (and percentage increase) depends heavily on your water usage and your meter size. To see what your bills will be, MMWD has a calculator on its website (click here , then scroll down to the “Rate Calculator”where you’ll be prompted to download an easy-to-use Excel model.)  A customer with a 5/8 inch meter, using 6 CCF in the winter and 18 CCF in the summer will see a full-year increase of 22% in year one; the bill in year 4 would be 56% higher than now.  A heavier water consumer (10 CCF in winter and 25 CCF in summer) will see a full-year increase of 36% in year one, with year four 78% higher than currently.

Why Does MMWD Need to Raise Rates So Much?

The increase for this rate cycle is necessary to allow MMWD to avert insolvency, restore financial stability, address capital project backlogs, and begin to address our need for larger water supplies.What can you do to control your bill?
The obvious answer is to reduce water usage. In addition, you should check to see if you are eligible for one of MMWD’s discount programs. These programs include:

  • Low/moderate income discount (for those with up to 80% of Marin’s median income.)
  • Capital Maintenance Fee discount (if you have a 1″ or larger meter due to a fire sprinkler system.)
  • Medical Discount program (if you have medical equipment that requires extra water)

Check here to learn more about these discount programs.

How to Object to this Proposal: File a Formal Protest

MMWD’s rates aren’t subject to a popular vote because water is an essential service. But the law provides for a rate proposal to be rejected IF, before the end of the May 16 prop 218 rate hearing, a majority of ratepayers file valid formal complaints. This rarely succeeds because the hurdle is high. To learn how to file a valid protest, click here , then scroll down to “How do I object to the proposed rates” in the Frequently Asked Questions section.What Happens at the Important May 16 Rate Hearing
The May 16 hearing is an opportunity to learn more about the proposed rate structure and rationale. The public may comment in-person or remotely. MMWD will announce the number of formal protests received. The board can consider reducing, but not increasing, the proposed rates. At the close of the evening the board votes on a rate approval motion. Click here for information on how to attend.)The Bottom Line
MMWD proposed rate increase is necessary, though if will painful for many residents.  Changes in the rate structure will give customers who conserve more control over their water bill.  The rating scheme is fairer, as it reduces the excessively high fixed charges for homes with larger meters.  With the cost of water itself rising sharply, consumers should be aware of their own water usage and calculate what cost increases to expect.  And they should check to see if they are eligible for any of MMWD’s discount programs.  If you object to the rate proposal, file a formal protest exactly.  Finally,  customers can attend (or call in) to the May 16 meeting where the public can comment on the proposed rates before the board votes 

YOU May Qualify for Tax & Fee Exemptions & Discounts Senior, Low and Moderate Income, Disabled & Medical

Tax and Fee Exemptions & Discounts for Seniors Low & Middle Income People with Disabilities & Medical Conditions MMWD & PGE Customers Who are Overpaying

APPLY NOW! Filing Deadlines Soon!

Beware: You May Need to Reapply Each Year
Don’t Miss Future Alerts Like This!

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Because so many tax- and rate-payers miss out on cost-saving opportunities for which they may qualify, CO$T distributes this informational bulletin to Marin County taxpayer-voters each spring, updated to include new discounts and exemptions as well as increased thresholds for income-based exemptions and discounts.
Please read this entire post! You may be surprised to find you are eligible to pay less!

Time is short to submit applications for exemptions and discounts on an array of Marin add-on property taxes and agency fees as well as rates on essential services such as water and sewer. Residents who may qualify include those who are seniors, disabled, have low to MODERATE income, have larger families, and have special circumstances (e.g., medical conditions that require extra water or electricity).Many Marin individuals and families who consider themselves middle-class qualify for “low income” discounts: Income cutoffs are often at 80% of Marin’s median or the even more generous income levels used by HUD to determine eligibility for housing assistance. All income-based discounts have upward adjustments for family size.


Several agencies also provide financial incentives that are unrelated to income.
We tell you below how to find out which of the taxes, fees, and rates you pay offer exemptions and discounts, how and when to apply, and how to determine if you qualify.

HOW TO FIND OUT WHICH ENTITIES OFFER EXEMPTIONS AND DISCOUNTS

Marin County’s Property Tax Exemption webpage has a full list of the agencies whose taxes are collected via property tax bills and may offer discounts/exemptions. (Certain agencies, e.g., water, send a bill to the property owner or renter directly and offer discounts, some of which we describe further down this page.)

If you enter your parcel number in the box on the county’s exemption page, the website pulls up a list of all the agencies that bill YOU through your property tax bill. The list also identifies the specific agencies on your tax bill that offer exemptions. For each one, there is a telephone number for more details regarding the criteria and deadlines; in many instances, there is a hotlink to the application form.

BIG POTENTIAL SAVINGS ON SCHOOL PARCEL TAXES: Most school districts offer parcel tax exemptions for ALL seniors 65 and older; some offer exemptions for low-income and disabled taxpayers as well. On the county’s exemption page for your tax bill (see above), you’ll find that school parcel taxes are the largest exemptions and discounts available. Some school districts have exemption application deadlines around May 1 so you may need to act quickly. School income- and disability-based discounts require annual filing. School parcel tax exemptions for seniors need only be applied for once, though you may need to file a new application if the person listed on your tax bill changes. Read your tax bill (or tax exemption page) carefully. You are likely paying school parcel taxes to multiple districts (e.g., K-8 and high school). If so, you must file separate exemption applications for each district to maximize your savings. Note that CA law doesn’t permit school bond tax measures to offer senior exemptions or discounts, an important fact about which many taxpayer-voters are unaware.
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Mark your calendar! Reapply annually for any expiring exemptions!
Several non-school discounts and exemptions are available, most of which require annual refiling or verification. Listed below are some of the more financially significant ones offered.

There is a low-income senior exemption (65+) for the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority parcel tax. YOU MUST REAPPLY EVERY YEAR to reconfirm proof of income level. Your application must be postmarked by June 30. Learn how to apply here. Don’t assume you are ineligible! Many middle-income households qualify. The latest posted income limit (updated annually) is $104,400 for a 1-person household; $119,300 for two people; $134,200 for three; $149,100 for four; and $161,050 for five; these limits are typically increased in early summer. This tax is assessed on building square footage. To ensure you’re not being overcharged, you should also verify that the official records show that the square footage of your property is accurate. If not, contact the Assessor’s office.

Note that some agencies such as the MWPA do not acknowledge receipt or approval of your exemption/discount application. Consequently, you should keep proof of all your exemption/discount applications and then carefully review your tax bill AS SOON AS YOU RECEIVE IT. If you can prove that your valid application was not reflected on your tax bill, immediately contact the agency to ask for an adjustment. Advocating on behalf of taxpayers, CO$T is urging agencies to acknowledge receipt of each application and inform the taxpayer in writing whether it has been approved.
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Marin Municipal Water District has several water bill discount programs listed here that are based on income, certain medical conditions, or having internal fire suppression sprinklers. Most people are unaware of MMWD’s generous income-based fee waiver program, which is open to every household that qualifies (not just seniors). Both meter-size-based charges on your water bill — totaling hundreds of dollars annually — are completely waived from the bills of qualifying families. Here are the income caps as of July 2023: $83,280 for a one-person household; $95,160 for 2; $107,040 for 3; $118,920 for 4; and increasing stepwise up to $157,000 for 8. Those caps will be raised and posted on MMWD’s website when the HUD data on which they are based is released in mid-May.
In response to customer complaints about its sizeable fixed fees tied to the diameter of the customer’s meter (incoming pipe), MMWD is also telling customers that they can save money by swapping out residential meters that are over 5/8″ in size. (Check your water bill for your meter size.) The charges for meter downsizing are listed in item 1.2 in the district’s rate/fee schedule. Make sure you ask what it will cost if you have to re-upsize, if, for example, you have to install interior fire suppression sprinklers. For more information, call MMWD at 415-945-1400 or email customerservice@marinwater.org

All residential customers who have interior fire suppression sprinklers are eligible for lower meter-size-based charges if they apply for MMWD’s capital maintenance fee reduction program.

In addition, there are many rebate programs related to water efficiency product purchases.

More Cost-Saving Opportunities Below

A variety of discounts and exemptions are offered by other agencies that may be on your property tax bill or may be billing you directly. Some are only available to seniors. Some use a “very low income” standard, meaning not as many customers qualify as do under the “low-income” standard used by MWPA. The most sizeable of these miscellaneous discounts and exemptions are those offered by water and sanitation districts.

Ross Valley Sanitary District

offers a low-income sewer charge assistance program with generous income thresholds similar to those of MWPA. Many moderate-income home and condo owners may be surprised to learn they qualify for a 25% discount on the RVSD sewer charge fee that appears on the tax bill. Apply before the June 30 deadline!

Novato and Mill Valley Sanitary Districts

offer a low-income sewer charge assistance program for those who have enrolled in PG&E’s CARE Program (which has much lower income caps than those used by RVSD, MMWD, and MWPA). Qualifying single-family residences receive a 10-15% discount from Novato Sanitary on their sewer tax; City of Mill Valley’s sewer discount is 25%.

Other Sewer / Sanitation Districts.

There are many other sanitation districts in Marin. Check with your local agency for discounts. Also, several sanitary agencies offer financial assistance with sewer lateral expenses.

North Marin Water District

offers a low-income discount of $15 monthly for applicants who are enrolled in PGE’s Care Program.

Stinson Beach County Water District

has a low-income discount program. For more information and a copy of the form call 415-868-1333.

Mill Valley Municipal Services Tax

– Low-income seniors are exempt. For more information and a copy of the form, call 415-384-4800 or email publicworks@cityofmillvalley.org

San Anselmo Municipal Services and library parcel tax

– There is an exemption for families who qualify for PG&E CARE Program. Please call 415-258-4678 to request an application.

Library taxes – Many libraries in Marin are part of the Marin County Free Library system, which offers a senior exemption that must be renewed annually by June 1. Some other libraries also offer library parcel tax exemptions.

There are several other exemptions and discounts not listed here.

Check the county exemption website to ensure you know about all of them. We are not responsible for any omissions or errors in this public service message.

You CAN lower your PG&E bill. Here’s how!

First, look into the several low-income discount programs PG&E offers. Second, learn about how the time-of-use plans impact you. PG&E automatically transitioned residential customers to the time-of-use plan back in 2021, which may have RAISED your bill unduly. You might achieve a lower bill if you change your habits: e.g., what time of day you use energy-intensive appliances. Or you may get a lower bill by changing your PG&E rate plan to the one that’s more cost-effective for your usage pattern. This is easy to do. Click here, then click the “compare rate plans now” button on the right side of the page to explore whether choosing a different rate plan will prevent a higher bill or lower what you’re already paying. Beware though, that your utility bill could change significantly in coming months owing to legislation that greenlighted the implementation of new fixed fees, which will be applied to the bills of everyone except those who are very low income.
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Mill Valley City Council Candidate Zoom Forum February 9 2023

Mill Valley City Council Candidate Forum
Zoom Q&A Webinar
7PM Thursday February 9

Featuring Both Candidates for an Open Council Seat:
Susan Gladwin and Caroline Joachim

Moderated by Dick Spotswood, Marin IJ Political Columnist
Doug Kelly, Master of Ceremonies and Time Keeper.
Organized and Hosted by CO$T