ZIP 94947 · Novato, CA

Five governments run on your community's money

This page shows every government that serves ZIP 94947: the state, county, city or town and school district, and where each one's money comes from and goes.

Each government is shown for its own newest fiscal year on file, so the years differ. Figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, the government's own report or, for California governments, the California State Controller's Office and the California Department of Education, as named under Sources and more.

Where do my taxes go in 94947?
94947 is served by the State of California, Marin County, Novato Unified School District, Laguna Joint School District and the City of Novato. In each one's latest recorded fiscal year, State of California spent $522.8 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Marin County spent $989 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Novato Unified School District spent $176 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), Laguna Joint School District spent $602 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) and City of Novato spent $80.5 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024). Each government's money is separate.

Which governments collect property tax in 94947?
Of the governments serving 94947, State of California collected $3.56 billion (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Marin County collected $315 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024), Novato Unified School District collected $56.4 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025), City of Novato collected $16.9 million (fiscal year ended June 30, 2024) and Laguna Joint School District collected $276 thousand (fiscal year ended June 30, 2025) in property tax. These are each government's total collections, not a bill for 94947.

See another ZIP code

From the state down to your schools: where each one's money comes from and goes.

See the full budget for: Marin County, Novato, Novato Unified School District and Laguna Joint School District

Why not this year? California governments with newer filings show figures from the California State Controller's Office and the California Department of Education (for 2024 and 2025, each government's newest year on file). Each other figure is the newest year the U.S. Census Bureau has published for that government, so the years differ and are not the current year. Most governments post their current budget on their own website.

Where property tax goes in 94947

State of California$3.56 billion

0.7% of its $477.8 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Marin County$315 million

29% of its $1.07 billion in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Novato Unified School District$56.4 million

37% of its $154 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

City of Novato$16.9 million

20% of its $85.4 million in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2024

Laguna Joint School District$276 thousand

41% of its $672 thousand in revenue · fiscal year ended June 30, 2025

These are each government's total property tax collections, not your bill. Your own bill is split by each government's tax rate, shown on your property tax bill.

Your county

Marin County

$989 million budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

County taxes35%State tax money35%Fees for services (sewer, transit fares)9.9%Federal tax money9.6%Fines and other7.4%Local tax money3.5%

What stands out

35%

of Marin County's money comes from state tax money.A typical U.S. county of 250,000+ people gets 19%.

Full Marin County breakdown

County taxes35%

Property tax
29%$315 million
Other taxes
3.3%$34.9 million
What's in other taxesOccupation and business licenses; other selective sales taxes and 4 more
  • Occupation and business licenses$9.9 million
  • Other selective sales taxes$7.8 million
  • Other licenses$5.3 million
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$4.1 million
  • Public utility taxes$3.9 million
  • Real estate and stock transfer taxes$3.9 million

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Sales tax
2.2%$23.7 million

Fees for services9.9%

Fees for services
9.9%$106 million
What's in fees for servicesOther service charges; sewer and 7 more
  • Other service charges$68.4 million
  • Sewer$16.9 million
  • Other school charges$5.2 million
  • Transit fares$5.0 million
  • Housing$3.6 million
  • Parks and recreation$3.0 million
  • Parks, land and natural resources$2.7 million
  • Airport$898 thousand
  • Garbage collection$194 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money9.6%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
9.6%$103 million

State tax money35%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
35%$371 million

Local tax money3.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From other local governments
3.5%$37.8 million

Fines and other7.4%

Interest, rents and other
7.1%$75.8 million
Fines
0.3%$3.5 million
Marin County page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs19%Police, fire, courts and jails17%Health and hospitals16%Social services9.5%Roads, transit and parking8.9%All other spending29%
Full Marin County breakdown

What stands out

8.5%

of Marin County's spending goes to housing and community development.Most U.S. counties of 250,000+ people spend nothing on this.

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
19%$191 million
What's in running the government and other costsOther and not broken out; central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology) and 1 more
  • Other and not broken out$132 million
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$40.1 million
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$18.3 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
17%$171 million
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPolice; fire protection and 4 more
  • Police$47.4 million
  • Fire protection$42.5 million
  • Prisons and jails$35.9 million
  • Courts and legal services$32.4 million
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$12.1 million
  • Inspections and regulation$328 thousand
Health and hospitals
16%$161 million
What's in health and hospitalsPublic health
  • Public health$161 million
Social services
9.5%$94.4 million
What's in social servicesOther public welfare
  • Other public welfare$94.4 million
Roads, transit and parking
8.9%$87.9 million
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 1 more
  • Roads and highways$46.4 million
  • Public transit$40.7 million
  • Airports$770 thousand
Housing and community development
8.5%$84.0 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
7.8%$77.6 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$57.9 million
  • Libraries$19.8 million
Schools and colleges
6.0%$59.6 million
What's in schools and collegesElementary and secondary schools
  • Elementary and secondary schools$59.6 million
Sent to other local governments
2.5%$24.8 million
What's in sent to other local governmentsSent to local governments: other and not broken out
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$24.8 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
1.6%$15.5 million
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems and garbage and solid waste
  • Sewer systems$13.2 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$2.3 million
Environment and natural resources
1.6%$15.4 million
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$15.4 million
Interest on debt
0.8%$7.7 million
Marin County page →

Your city

City of Novato

$80.5 million budget in fiscal year 2024 (ended June 30, 2024), from the California State Controller's Office.

About 25% of this ZIP is in Novato.

Where the money comes from

City taxes51%Fines and other30%Fees for services8.5%Federal tax money5.2%State tax money4.7%County and local tax money0.5%
Full Novato breakdown

City taxes51%

Sales tax
20%$17.5 million
Property tax
20%$16.9 million
Other taxes
8.5%$7.3 million
Tourism taxes
2.5%$2.1 million

Fees for services8.5%

Fees for services
8.5%$7.2 million

Federal tax money5.2%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
5.2%$4.5 million

State tax money4.7%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
4.7%$4.0 million

County and local tax money0.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
0.5%$419 thousand

Fines and other30%

Interest, rents and other
30%$25.2 million
Fines
0.3%$263 thousand
Novato page →

Where the money goes

Running the government and other costs45%Police, fire, courts and jails25%Roads, transit and parking11%Housing and community development7.2%Parks, recreation and libraries4.8%All other spending7.0%
Full Novato breakdown

Spending by category100%

Running the government and other costs
45%$36.5 million
Police, fire, courts and jails
25%$20.0 million
Roads, transit and parking
11%$8.7 million
Housing and community development
7.2%$5.8 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
4.8%$3.9 million
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
4.1%$3.3 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
3.0%$2.4 million
Novato page →

Your schools

Novato Unified School District

$176 million budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the California Department of Education.

About 58% of this ZIP is in Novato Unified School District.

Where the money comes from

State tax money50%School district taxes37%Fines and other5.3%Federal tax money4.2%County and local tax money3.5%Fees for services0.3%
Full Novato Unified School District breakdown

School district taxes37%

Property tax
37%$56.4 million

Fees for services0.3%

Fees for services
0.3%$441 thousand

Federal tax money4.2%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
4.2%$6.4 million

State tax money50%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
50%$77.2 million

County and local tax money3.5%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
3.5%$5.4 million

Fines and other5.3%

Interest, rents and other
5.3%$8.1 million
Novato Unified School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges88%Debt payments (principal and interest)8.9%Sent to other local governments2.8%
Full Novato Unified School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
88%$155 million
Debt payments (principal and interest)
8.9%$15.7 million
Sent to other local governments
2.8%$4.8 million
Novato Unified School District page →

Laguna Joint School District

$602 thousand budget in fiscal year 2025 (ended June 30, 2025), from the California Department of Education.

About 41% of this ZIP is in Laguna Joint School District.

Where the money comes from

School district taxes41%State tax money37%Fines and other16%Federal tax money4.4%County and local tax money1.6%
Full Laguna Joint School District breakdown

School district taxes41%

Property tax
41%$276 thousand

Federal tax money4.4%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
4.4%$30 thousand

State tax money37%

Money the state passes on, paid for by the state taxes residents also pay.

From the state
37%$250 thousand

County and local tax money1.6%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From the county and other local governments
1.6%$11 thousand

Fines and other16%

Interest, rents and other
16%$104 thousand
Laguna Joint School District page →

Where the money goes

Schools and colleges87%Sent to other local governments13%
Full Laguna Joint School District breakdown

Spending by category100%

Schools and colleges
87%$525 thousand
Sent to other local governments
13%$76 thousand
Laguna Joint School District page →

Your state

State of California

$522.8 billion budget in the latest fiscal year on record, which ended June 30, 2024.

Where the money comes from

State taxes56%Federal tax money28%Fees for services (hospital bills, college tuition)8.7%Fines and other6.4%Local tax money1.4%
Full California breakdown

What stands out

26%

of California's money comes from a personal income tax.A typical state government gets 14%.

State taxes56%

Individual income tax
26%$123.1 billion
Sales tax
11%$53.3 billion
Other taxes
9.2%$44.1 billion
What's in other taxesMotor fuel taxes; motor vehicle licenses and 16 more
  • Motor fuel taxes$9.24 billion
  • Motor vehicle licenses$8.51 billion
  • Other taxes not classified elsewhere$8.27 billion
  • Occupation and business licenses$5.13 billion
  • Other selective sales taxes$4.65 billion
  • Insurance premium taxes$4.01 billion
  • Tobacco taxes$1.43 billion
  • Public utility taxes$967 million
  • Public utility licenses$605 million
  • Alcoholic beverage taxes$418 million
  • Driver's licenses$400 million
  • Severance taxes$133 million
  • Hunting and fishing licenses$124 million
  • Corporation licenses$102 million
  • Alcoholic beverage licenses$98.6 million
  • Amusement licenses$22.0 million
  • Other licenses$18.4 million
  • Estate and gift taxes$891 thousand

Amounts are by Census tax category.

Business income tax
8.7%$41.4 billion
Property tax
0.7%$3.56 billion

Fees for services8.7%

Fees for services
8.7%$41.4 billion
What's in fees for servicesHospital bills; college tuition and 10 more
  • Hospital bills$22.1 billion
  • College tuition$10.6 billion
  • Other service charges$3.55 billion
  • University housing and dining$2.78 billion
  • Parks, land and natural resources$1.96 billion
  • Parks and recreation$257 million
  • Electric power$149 million
  • Road charges$34.3 million
  • Parking$21.6 million
  • Other government-run businesses$8.8 million
  • Housing$1.0 million
  • Other education charges$683 thousand

Amounts are by Census type of charge.

Federal tax money28%

Grants from Washington, paid for by the federal taxes residents also pay.

From the federal government
28%$133.8 billion

Local tax money1.4%

Money passed on by the county or other local governments.

From local governments
1.4%$6.66 billion

Fines and other6.4%

Interest, rents and other
6.0%$28.7 billion
Fines
0.4%$1.77 billion
California page →

Where the money goes

Sent to local governments39%Social services30%Schools and colleges12%Health and hospitals5.5%Police, fire, courts and jails4.8%All other spending8.3%

What stands out

39%

of California's spending goes to local governments.A typical state government spends 24%.

Full California breakdown

Spending by category100%

Sent to local governments
39%$205.0 billion
What's in sent to local governmentsSent to school districts; sent to local governments: other public welfare and 22 more
  • Sent to school districts$68.1 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other public welfare$67.8 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other and not broken out$11.5 billion
  • Sent to school districts (colleges)$9.41 billion
  • Sent to local governments: roads and highways$8.79 billion
  • Sent to local governments: public health$8.48 billion
  • Sent to local governments: elementary and secondary schools$4.85 billion
  • Sent to local governments: courts and legal services$4.30 billion
  • Sent to local governments: natural resources, farming and conservation$3.93 billion
  • Sent to local governments: general support$3.92 billion
  • Sent to the federal government$3.60 billion
  • Sent to local governments: housing and community development$3.21 billion
  • Sent to local governments: inspections and regulation$1.80 billion
  • Sent to local governments: garbage and solid waste$1.63 billion
  • Sent to local governments: sewer systems$1.00 billion
  • Sent to local governments: other government administration$998 million
  • Sent to local governments: libraries$671 million
  • Sent to local governments: colleges and universities$250 million
  • Sent to local governments: other education$226 million
  • Sent to local governments: parks and recreation$203 million
  • Sent to local governments: prisons and jails$185 million
  • Sent to local governments: police$75.2 million
  • Sent to local governments: airports$3.5 million
  • Sent to local governments: finance, tax collection and budgeting$190 thousand
Social services
30%$158.6 billion
What's in social servicesOther public welfare; unemployment and social insurance offices and 2 more
  • Other public welfare$156.1 billion
  • Unemployment and social insurance offices$1.83 billion
  • Welfare institutions$559 million
  • Veterans' services$22.8 million
Schools and colleges
12%$62.1 billion
What's in schools and collegesColleges and universities; scholarships and other education subsidies and 3 more
  • Colleges and universities$44.7 billion
  • Scholarships and other education subsidies$7.82 billion
  • College housing, dining and bookstores$4.29 billion
  • Elementary and secondary schools$3.95 billion
  • Other education$1.34 billion
Health and hospitals
5.5%$29.0 billion
What's in health and hospitalsHospitals and public health
  • Hospitals$25.2 billion
  • Public health$3.80 billion
Police, fire, courts and jails
4.8%$25.1 billion
What's in police, fire, courts and jailsPrisons and jails; inspections and regulation and 3 more
  • Prisons and jails$12.6 billion
  • Inspections and regulation$5.00 billion
  • Police$3.20 billion
  • Courts and legal services$2.29 billion
  • Probation, parole and other corrections$1.97 billion
Roads, transit and parking
2.5%$13.2 billion
What's in roads, transit and parkingRoads and highways; public transit and 2 more
  • Roads and highways$12.0 billion
  • Public transit$1.18 billion
  • Parking$6.1 million
  • Airports$5.7 million
Running the government and other costs
2.5%$12.9 billion
What's in running the government and other costsFinance, tax collection and budgeting; other and not broken out and 3 more
  • Finance, tax collection and budgeting$7.89 billion
  • Other and not broken out$3.16 billion
  • Other government administration$1.10 billion
  • Central staff services (personnel, purchasing, technology)$729 million
  • Other government-run businesses$8.3 million
Environment and natural resources
1.7%$9.02 billion
What's in environment and natural resourcesNatural resources, farming and conservation
  • Natural resources, farming and conservation$9.02 billion
Interest on debt
1.0%$5.39 billion
Water, sewer, trash and utilities
0.3%$1.54 billion
What's in water, sewer, trash and utilitiesSewer systems; electric power and 2 more
  • Sewer systems$665 million
  • Electric power$378 million
  • Garbage and solid waste$284 million
  • Water supply$214 million
Parks, recreation and libraries
0.2%$900 million
What's in parks, recreation and librariesParks and recreation and libraries
  • Parks and recreation$861 million
  • Libraries$39.4 million
Housing and community development
<0.1%$211 million
California page →
Sources and moreEach government's source, fiscal year and how a ZIP is matched

State of California. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Marin County. U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Novato Unified School District. California Department of Education, SACS Unaudited Actual Financial Data, fiscal year 2024-25, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

Laguna Joint School District. California Department of Education, SACS Unaudited Actual Financial Data, fiscal year 2024-25, fiscal year ended June 30, 2025. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024.

City of Novato. California State Controller's Office, Cities and Counties Annual Report (By The Numbers), fiscal year 2024, fiscal year ended June 30, 2024. The earlier Census figures are from U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Finance, individual unit file, fiscal year ended June 30, 2022.

How these figures are counted. Revenue and spending are the figures that a California government reported to the California State Controller's Office in its annual cities and counties financial report, grouped into the same categories as the Census figures. The report covers general-purpose and enterprise funds, such as water, sewer, trash, transit and hospitals, and leaves out internal service funds and depreciation. Fiscal years end June 30.

Spending by service. The report shows spending by service, with capital projects counted under the service they paid for. Debt repayment is shown separately.

Separate governments. Dependent special districts are not included.

School districts. School district figures are the unaudited actuals filed with the California Department of Education for the 2024-25 school year (ended June 30, 2025). The "Debt payments" line for a school district includes principal as well as interest, so spending can be higher than the Census figure.

How a ZIP is matched. A ZIP code is not a government boundary, so we match it to the cities, counties and school districts that overlap it, using Census Bureau geography. Where a ZIP crosses several, each one is shown with its share of the ZIP. Each government's money covers its own operations only; the others listed here are separate.

Not shown. Part of this ZIP is also served by Petaluma Joint Union High School District, which are not matched to a finance record here.

Latest recorded year. The year differs by government: each block shows the newest fiscal year on file. A Census survey year covers fiscal years ending July 1 of the year before through June 30 of that year.