Alameda County Secured Property Tax Statement: Property Taxes & Special Assessments for FY 2020-2021
The annual tax bill from Alameda County includes taxes, fixed charges, and/or special assessments levied by the City of Berkeley and other jurisdictions. Fixed charges and/or special assessments appear on the right side of your tax bill.
The City has seven (7) voter-approved taxes that help fund municipal services for street lighting, landscaping, libraries, paramedics, fire protection, and emergency services. Voters ratified a specific definition of “square footage” in ballot measures and directed the City to use that definition for taxation purposes.
The City acknowledges that there will be differences between County and City data because each utilizes different parameters and criteria for determining square footage.
City of Berkeley's Special Taxes Based on Square Footage: Response to the Berkeley Neighborhoods Councils Concerns Regarding Special Tax Calculations
To view your taxable square footage per the City’s database, please visit: Open Data Portal
If you believe that there is an error in square footage, please write to the Finance Department directly and include building plans, scaled drawings with dimensions, and their calculations to augment your assertion. Please email this information to propertytaxes@cityofberkeley.info.
The tax bill covers the period from July 1 through June 30.
The following table describes the special taxes and assessments for the City of Berkeley and the Berkeley Unified School District. The titles for these items, listed below, appear in an abbreviated version on your tax bill. Descriptions of taxes, fees, and assessments imposed by other agencies are not included here.
| Tax, Fee, or Assessment |
Description |
Calculation: Based on building square footage and land use codes, unless otherwise noted |
Rate Increase |
| City Street Lighting |
Funds the maintenance and/or servicing of existing and future public lighting facilities, including traffic signals and public lighting. |
| Residential: |
0.01080 |
| Commercial: |
0.04320 |
| Industrial: |
0.02160 |
| Institutional: |
0.01080 |
Non-profits are not exempt.
|
None |
| Maintenance of City Parks, Trees & Landscaping |
Funds maintenance of parks, city trees, and City landscaping. |
| Residential: |
0.17930 |
| Non-residential: |
0.17930 |
Non-profits are exempt.
|
3.730% |
| City Refuse Collection/Zero Waste Service |
Single-family, condominium, and 2-unit residences have their refuse (garbage) collection services billed annually on the property tax bills. The amount billed depends on the size and number of receptacles and frequency of service. |
For current rates, see Refuse: Rates by District. |
None |
| City Library Services |
Supports the usual and current expenses of operating the City of Berkeley Library Services. |
| Residential: |
0.22720 |
| Non-residential: |
0.34350 |
Non-profits are exempt.
|
None |
| Paramedic Supplemental Tax (Emergency Medical Services) |
Provides funding to the Berkeley Fire Department for emergency paramedic and ambulance services; it is in addition to the County Service Area (CSA) Paramedic Assessment, which funds Countywide ambulance, paramedic, and trauma center care services. |
| Residential: |
0.03970 |
| Non-residential: |
0.03970 |
Non-profits are exempt.
|
1.110% |
| Emergency Services for the Severely Disabled |
Funds paratransit programs for eligible seniors and disabled persons. |
| Residential: |
0.01699 |
| Non-residential: |
0.01699 |
Non-profits are exempt.
|
3.730% |
| Fire Protection and Emergency Response and Preparedness Tax (Measure GG) |
Measure GG was passed by Berkeley voters in November 2008. The revenue from this tax is used to keep fire stations open, improve and expand paramedic services and medical service response, improve disaster preparedness in the community, and invest in a unified communication system that will allow Berkeley police and firefighters to better coordinate with other agencies |
| Residential: |
0.05818 |
| Non-residential: |
0.08804 |
Non-profits are exempt.
|
None |
| 2018 Street Light Assessment |
Generates funding to provide effective street lighting to enhance pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety as well as repair and replace street lights to maintain well-lit streets for safe, livable and vibrant neighborhoods.
NOTE: This is a new assessment adopted by ballot in 2018 and took effect July 1, 2019. This assessment funds street light needs above the original Street Light Assessment.
|
For details of this assessment, see FY2020-2021 Street Light Assessment Rates. |
Depends on property use / size |
| 2018 Storm Water |
Funds the continued operations and maintenance and necessary capital improvements to city storm drainage infrastructure, green infrastructure and clean water efforts above the original Clean Storm Water assessment.
NOTE: This is a new assessment adopted by ballot in 2018 and took effect July 1, 2019. No land use is exempt from paying this assessment. |
For details of this assessment, see FY2020-2021 Storm Water Fee Schedule. |
Depends on property use / size |
| Community Facility District 1 – Procurement of Disaster Fire Equipment (CFD1) – Mello Roos |
Finance the purchase of equipment, supplies, and storage facilities for enhanced response to natural disasters such as urban wildfires and earthquakes. This tax repays a 20-year bond and appeared for the first time on the FY 2001 tax bill. The final installment will be in FY 2021.* *NOTE: The original notice for this tax was recorded with Alameda County on December 6, 2000 on all existing Berkeley parcels as “notice of special tax lien” with document #2000357307. This is a recorded notice and not a lien that clouds a title; it is a notice to potential buyers that a Mello Roos tax is in effect.
|
| Residential: |
0.01250 |
| Non-residential: |
0.01250 |
Non-profits are exempt.
|
None |
| Clean Storm Water (California Constitution Article XIII, & 6) |
Fund the maintenance and improvement of the storm water drainage system. |
The assessment is based on a formula that includes the lot square footage (not building square footage), a run-off factor based on the type of building on the lot, and a standard runoff rate (based on an 'average' lot size).
- Standard Runoff Unit = 2,196 SF
- Rate per Runoff Unit = $50.00
- Runoff Factors are:
| Single Residential |
0.4 |
| Duplex |
0.4 |
| Other Residential |
0.6 |
| Commercial |
0.8 |
| Industrial |
0.8 |
| Institutional |
0.6 |
| Vacant Land |
0.2 |
For example, a duplex on a 3,000 square foot lot would be assessed as follows:
(3,000 Sq Ft x $50.00 x .4) / 2,196 Sq Ft = $27.32
Non-profits are not exempt.
|
None |
Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) Taxes
The following three school taxes are not administered by the City of Berkeley. Please direct questions regarding the details of these taxes to BUSD:
Berkeley Unified School District
2020 Bonar St, Ste 217 B
Berkeley, CA 94702
www.berkeleyschools.net
(510) 644-8717
These three taxes are based on building square footage and land use codes. The School District extends an exemption to non-profits for these taxes.
BUSD: Berkeley School Tax (Measure E1 of 2016) In November 2016, the voters of the City of Berkeley adopted Measure E1 of 2016. Funds are used to reduce class sizes, increase teacher training, and provide school enrichment programs.
There is a 2.5% increase for FY 2021.
The tax is based on building square footage and land use codes.
| Residential |
0.40800 |
| Non-Residential |
0.40800 |
BUSD: School Maintenance (Measure H of 2020)
In March 2020, the voters of Berkeley adopted Measure H of 2020. Funds are used to provide essential maintenance of buildings, classrooms, grounds, roofs, electrical, mechanical/plumbing systems, and address fire/safety hazards.
The tax is based on building square footage.
| Residential |
0.09100 |
| Non-Residential |
0.09100 |
| Vacant Lot |
$20.00 |
BUSD: Berkeley Educator Recruitment
In March 2020, the voters of Berkeley adopted Measure E of 2020. Funds are used to recruit and retain qualified teachers and prevent shortages of essential school staff.
The tax is based on building square footage.
| Residential |
0.12400 |
| Non-Residential |
0.12400 |
| Vacant Lot |
$25.00 (flat rate) |
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)
Certain commercial districts in the City of Berkeley have special assessments on the property tax bills to fund improvements and beautification projects in those areas. Currently, there are three Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) that may appear on a tax bill:
- Telegraph BID (no increase in FY 2021)
- North Shattuck BID (re-established in FY 2020)
- Downtown BID (no increase in FY 2021)
The amounts of these assessments are based on the particular BID and formulas that take into account the size and configuration of the commercial structure.
Some property tax bills have liens included with the special taxes and assessments. Liens are placed on tax bills when property owners fail to pay for billable services provided by the City of Berkeley or when a citation is issued against a property and remains unpaid. Typical liens include the following:
- Residential Housing Inspection fees
- Business License Tax on rental property
- Environmental Health fees
- Sidewalk Repairs
- Refuse Services
- Residential Housing Safety Program (annual) fees
- Fire Inspection fees
- Toxics/Hazardous Material permit fees
- Administrative Citations
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Thousand Oaks Heights Underground District is a 30-year assessment and first appeared on the property taxes in FY 2006. The final assessment will appear on the FY 2035 property tax bill.
This assessment pays for converting street lighting service from overhead wires to underground wiring of streetlights.
Your property tax bill includes other property-based taxes, which are found on the left side of your statement. In addition to the Countywide tax of 1%, your property tax statement includes additional items reflecting voter-approved debt service for payment of bonds issued by jurisdictions within your tax rate area to provide designated programs and services. These Ad Valorem taxes are based on the assessed value of the property, less any exemptions.
| Taxing Agency |
Tax Rate |
| Countywide Tax |
1.0000% |
| |
|
| Voter Approved Debt Service |
|
| City of Berkeley |
0.0540% |