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State Municipal Index • CA
California Property Tax Drift Index
State Avg Drift Score
58/100
California Municipal Risk Briefing
State Comptroller & US Census Bureau (CA)August 2026
California maintains an average TaxDrift Score of 58/100 across monitored jurisdictions. Overlapping municipal bond issuances and assessment equalization rollbacks determine local millage carrying costs under statutory rules.
Population
38,965,193
Avg Effective Tax Rate
0.8%
Total Tracked Muni Debt
$213.9B
Counties Monitored
10
Statutory Tax Caps & Voter-Approval Rules (CA)
Proposition 13 limits base property tax to 1% and caps annual reassessment increases at 2% until resale.
Audited Counties in California
California County Tax Drift Leaderboard
10 Jurisdictions Audited| Rank | Jurisdiction | Drift Score | Risk Tier | Muni Debt / Cap | CAD Lag Spread | 3-Yr Tax Shock | Audit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Alameda County, CA | 60.4 | Elevated | $8,800 | +24.5% | +$209,519/yr | View |
| #2 | San Francisco County, CA | 60.4 | Elevated | $9,600 | +26.0% | +$221,261/yr | View |
| #3 | Los Angeles County, CA | 59.9 | Elevated | $7,800 | +21.2% | +$136,960/yr | View |
| #4 | Riverside County, CA | 59.1 | Elevated | $7,200 | +20.5% | +$104,714/yr | View |
| #5 | Sacramento County, CA | 58.9 | Elevated | $7,100 | +21.0% | +$91,562/yr | View |
| #6 | San Bernardino County, CA | 57.9 | Elevated | $6,900 | +19.8% | +$90,317/yr | View |
| #7 | Contra Costa County, CA | 56.6 | Elevated | $8,200 | +23.0% | +$156,082/yr | View |
| #8 | San Diego County, CA | 56.2 | Elevated | $6,900 | +22.8% | +$150,249/yr | View |
| #9 | Santa Clara County, CA | 55.4 | Elevated | $8,600 | +25.0% | +$264,145/yr | View |
| #10 | Orange County, CA | 55.4 | Elevated | $7,400 | +23.0% | +$172,868/yr | View |