Where your property tax goes
None of it goes to the federal government. Most of it pays for schools, the county and special districts. Property tax is still Mountain View's biggest source of city money: 41% of the general fund.
Last checked Oct 20, 2026 · Tax rates FY 2025–26 (2026–27 rate book expected in November) · Fixed charges FY 2026–27
The 1% base tax
Every California property pays 1% of its assessed value, shared among schools, the county, the state's school fund (ERAF), special districts and the city. We haven't found Mountain View's exact share in cents: the county's lookup tool blocks automated access and the city's budget doesn't state it. Countywide, cities average about 10¢; Sunnyvale gets about 13¢ and Cupertino 7¢.
$84.2M of the $207.6M recommended general fund for 2026–27.
Leases and use of city property, ahead of sales tax ($23.5M) and other local taxes ($26.7M).
The extra 0.16%: voter-approved bonds and levies
| Line on your bill (tax rate areas 005-000, 005-010) | Rate | On $1M |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain View Whisman elementary bonds (2012, 2020) | 0.0419% | $419 |
| County retirement levy (county pensions) | 0.0388% | $388 |
| Foothill–De Anza college bonds (1999, 2006, 2020) | 0.0311% | $311 |
| Mountain View–Los Altos high school bonds (2010, 2018) | 0.0300% | $300 |
| County housing bond (2016 Measure A) | 0.0056% | $56 |
| County hospital (VMC) bond, 2008 | 0.0052% | $52 |
| El Camino Hospital bond, 2003 | 0.0020% | $20 |
| Midpeninsula Open Space bond, 2014 | 0.0014% | $14 |
| Total with the 1% | 1.1560% | $11,560 |
Plus a Valley Water state water project charge of 0.0039% (about $39 on $1M). Mountain View runs its own library from the general fund, so there's no county library line.
Flat charges on the same bill
| Charge (2026–27) | Goes to | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Measure AA parcel tax: $0.15 per building sq ft, up to $1,750 | Mountain View Whisman SD | ~$261 |
| Safe, Clean Water tax | Valley Water | $82.41 |
| Mosquito and vector control | County | $30.86 |
| Bay restoration (Measure AA) | SF Bay Restoration Authority | $12.00 |
| Total | ~$386 |
The Whisman tax shown is for the district's average 1,734 sq ft home; a larger house pays more. MVLA high school district has no parcel tax. Sewer is on your city utility bill, not here.
Why your neighbor pays a very different amount
Under Prop 13, a home is assessed at its purchase price, then can rise at most 2% a year until it sells. A recent buyer of a $2 million house pays about $23,000 a year; a long-time owner next door may pay a few thousand. Mountain View's assessed values grew 2.93% this year, the slowest of the three cities.
How to pay less
Federal deduction: the SALT cap is now $40,000
Often $5,000+ a yearFrom 2025 you can deduct up to $40,000 of state and local taxes on your federal return, up from $10,000. It's $40,400 for 2026, phases down above about $505,000 of income and returns to $10,000 in 2030.
Seniors: stop paying the Whisman parcel tax
~$261 a year (up to $1,750)Owners 65+ (or turning 65 before July 1, 2026), on SSI, or on SSDI with limited income, in a single-family home they live in. Apply once; it carries over.
How: Mountain View Whisman SD exemption form, due June 30, 2027.
Homeowners' exemption
~$81 a year$7,000 off your assessed value if you live in the house on January 1. Lost when the house is put into a trust or re-deeded.
How: form BOE-266 to the County Assessor by Feb 15.
Low-income seniors: Valley Water exemption
$82 a yearBorn before June 30, 1962, 2025 household income below $75,112. Apply April 15 to June 30, once.
Disabled veterans
$2,100–$3,130 a year$180,671 off assessed value in 2026, or $271,009 with household income of $81,131 or less.
Value review and postponement
Bought near the 2022 peak? Ask for a Prop 8 review (2026 window June 30 to Aug 8; appeals July 2 to Sept 15). Seniors 62+ with limited income can postpone property tax through the State Controller.
Facts are checked against the public sources listed on each page. Rates change every year; each page shows when it was last checked. Individual bills are confidential in California, so personal numbers are estimates from public rates. Nothing here is legal, tax or insurance advice.