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County · California

Santa Clara County

Santa Clara County is a county in California. It pays for health and human services, police, public works and libraries. In fiscal year 2024, Santa Clara County collected $5,303.4M in taxes and spent $5,303.4M.

Collected and spent

In fiscal year 2024, Santa Clara County collected $5,303.4M in taxes and spent $5,303.4M.

Collected
$5,303.4M
Fiscal year 2024 · taxes
Spent
$5,303.4M
Fiscal year 2024

Where the money comes from

Two taxes.

Property tax, the 1% base
$1 per $100 of value
the home's full cash value as Proposition 13 sets it: the price paid, rising at most 2% a year · Set by the California Constitution (Proposition 13); the county collects it and shares it with the cities, schools and districts by a state formula
Property tax, voter-approved additions
$0.051 per $100 of value
the same value, on top of the 1% base
Source · California Legislative Information, Prop 13. Read on October 15, 2026.
DetailsProp 13 (CA Const. Art. XIII A §1)
Source · Santa Clara County Controller-Treasurer — Compilation of Tax Rates & Information 2024-25, Santa Clara County. Read on June 28, 2026.
DetailsSanta Clara County (CA) 2024 county property overlays — retirement levy 0.0388 + Valley Medical Center 0.0055 + housing bond 0.0043 + county library 0.0024 = 0.0510/$100 ×10 = 0.510 mills, per the Santa Clara County Compilation of Tax Rates 2024-25 (Summary A-4). Supersedes the 2026-06-20 retirement-only 0.388 seal (operator chose to include the county library tier, 0.510 over 0.486). 1% Prop 13 base rendered as a separate statutory line

Where it goes

Nine service lines.

Health and human services · Public assistance
$1,422.6M
Police
$1,341.7M
Health and human services · Health and sanitation, Total Governmental Funds
$1,117.9M
Public works · Capital outlay
$605.6M
General government
$327.7M
Debt service · past obligation
$298.3M
Library
$67.0M
Parks and recreation
$63.3M
Public works · Public ways and facilities
$59.2M

Bars in both tables share one scale. Hatched lines pay for past obligations, not current services.

Source · County of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Read on June 21, 2026.
DetailsCounty of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances — Governmental Funds, Total Governmental Funds column, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (FY 2023-24); amounts in thousands

Who decides

The board runs the county. It adopts the budget each year. It also sets the property tax rates. 5 Supervisors, one for each of 5 districts.

Sylvia Arenas
Supervisor, District 1
Term end not published
Re-check by November 3, 2026
Betty Duong
Supervisor, District 2
Term end not published
Re-check by November 3, 2026
Otto Lee
Supervisor, District 3
Term end not published
Re-check by November 3, 2026
Susan Ellenberg
Supervisor, District 4
Term end not published
Re-check by November 3, 2026
Margaret Abe-Koga
Supervisor, District 5
Term end not published
Re-check by November 3, 2026
Source · California Legislature, Cal. Gov. Code §29088. Read on October 10, 2026.
DetailsCal. Gov. Code §29088 (budget adoption) and §29100(a) (tax rates) (read 2026-10-10)

When decisions happen

The board adopts the final budget by October 2 each year. It sets property tax rates by October 3.

Each yearThe county budget year runs July 1 to June 30.
Next electionThe next general election is November 3, 2026.
Supervisors serve 4-year terms.

How to reach it

Board of Supervisors: (408) 299-5001
Phone
70 West Hedding Street, East Wing, 10th Floor, San Jose, CA 95110
Mailing address
Source · California Legislature, Cal. Gov. Code §29001(e), Budget year. Read on October 10, 2026.
DetailsCal. Gov. Code §29001(e), Budget year (with §29088 and §29100(a)) (read 2026-10-10)

Also on this tax bill

A Santa Clara County address pays these governments too. Which school districts, cities and special districts apply depends on the address.

On every bill in Santa Clara County

CaliforniaStateSan Francisco Bay Restoration Authority (Measure AA)Special districtSanta Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)Special district

On some bills, depending on the address

School districts: 26. Find yours by address.

Cities: 14

San JoseCity
Palo AltoNot in Who Taxes Me yet
SunnyvaleCitySanta ClaraCity
GilroyNot in Who Taxes Me yet
MilpitasNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Morgan HillNot in Who Taxes Me yet
SaratogaNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Mountain ViewNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Los GatosNot in Who Taxes Me yet
San MartinNot in Who Taxes Me yet
CupertinoNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Los Altos HillsNot in Who Taxes Me yet
Los AltosNot in Who Taxes Me yet

Special districts: 2

Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (Measure T)Special districtMidpeninsula Regional Open Space DistrictSpecial district

Sources

Collected
County of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Read on June 21, 2026.
DetailsCounty of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances — Governmental Funds, Total Governmental Funds column, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (FY 2023-24); amounts in thousands
Spent
County of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Read on June 21, 2026.
DetailsCounty of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances — Governmental Funds, Total Governmental Funds column, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (FY 2023-24); amounts in thousands
Taxes
California Legislative Information, Prop 13. Read on October 15, 2026.
DetailsProp 13 (CA Const. Art. XIII A §1)
Taxes
Santa Clara County Controller-Treasurer — Compilation of Tax Rates & Information 2024-25, Santa Clara County. Read on June 28, 2026.
DetailsSanta Clara County (CA) 2024 county property overlays — retirement levy 0.0388 + Valley Medical Center 0.0055 + housing bond 0.0043 + county library 0.0024 = 0.0510/$100 ×10 = 0.510 mills, per the Santa Clara County Compilation of Tax Rates 2024-25 (Summary A-4). Supersedes the 2026-06-20 retirement-only 0.388 seal (operator chose to include the county library tier, 0.510 over 0.486). 1% Prop 13 base rendered as a separate statutory line
Who decides
California Legislature, Cal. Gov. Code §29088. Read on October 10, 2026.
DetailsCal. Gov. Code §29088 (budget adoption) and §29100(a) (tax rates) (read 2026-10-10)
When decisions happen
California Legislature, Cal. Gov. Code §29001(e), Budget year. Read on October 10, 2026.
DetailsCal. Gov. Code §29001(e), Budget year (with §29088 and §29100(a)) (read 2026-10-10)
How to reach it
County of Santa Clara, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors home page. Read on October 10, 2026.
DetailsSanta Clara County Board of Supervisors home page (board.sccgov.org), Contact us (read 2026-10-10)
What it does
County of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Read on June 21, 2026.
DetailsCounty of Santa Clara, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances — Governmental Funds, Total Governmental Funds column, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2024 (FY 2023-24); amounts in thousands

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