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May 9, 2008
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The mission of the Office of the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder-Chief Elections Officer is to ensure equitable treatment of county property owners by accurate and fair valuation of land, improvements and business and personal property; to create an accurate public record of transactions affecting San Mateo County property; and to register county voters and efficiently conduct honest elections.

In 1993, the departments of the Assessor and County Clerk-Recorder-Elections were combined by the vote of the people of San Mateo County with the passage of Measure G. In the year 1999, the Assessor-County Clerk-Recorder consolidated all of its operations in a new building on the County Center campus in Redwood City. The Elections division and the storage of all election materials and equipment is located in the Tower Road office in San Mateo.



Our Duties

Assessor  |  County Clerk  | Recorder  | Elections  |  Warren Slocum
Assessor

The Assessor is responsible for determining the assessed value of all taxable property located in San Mateo County. With approximately 236,000 assessments each year, the Assessor's Office creates the official record of taxable property (local assessment roll), shares it with the County Controller and Tax Collector, and makes it publicly available. The local assessment roll is determined by identifying, mapping, inspecting, and calculating the assessed value for all real (land and structures) and business properties. Typically, property tax is 1% of the assessed value, plus an amount to amortize voter-approved bonds, and any fees for special assessments or charges such as mosquito abatement or sewer fees.

The Assessor's Office assesses over 217,000 units on the secured roll and 20,000 units on the unsecured roll. In addition, the Office processes approximately 50,000 transfer documents, 24,000 building permits, 143,000 exemptions, and 10,000 business property statements annually.

San Mateo County claims within its boundaries a wealth of land, buildings, and taxable property with an assessed value of more than $100 billion. The property tax revenues generated from these assets are vital to maintaining local government operations and public services.

The Assessor's office is located at 555 County Center, 3rd Floor, Redwood City.
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County Clerk

The County Clerk is authorized to issue marriage licenses and perform civil marriages. The County Clerk is also the official filing location for various legal and business documents: vital records of birth, death or marriage; fictitious business name statements; oaths of office and official bonds; powers of attorney; professional registrations; environmental impact reports; passport applications; name change orders; conflict of interest statements. These records are made available to the public as allowed by law, subject to a fee.

The County Clerk's office is located at 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City.
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Recorder

The Recorder preserves the official archive of various documents relating to legally recordable transactions of events, such as deeds and maps relating to real property sales, commercial financing statements, or mechanic's liens. The Recorder collects documentary transfer tax and conveyance taxes on property sales. Documents are recorded, indexed, digitally archived, and made available for public viewing and copying, subject to a fee.

The Recorder's office is located at 555 County Center, 1st Floor, Redwood City.
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Elections & Voter Registration

In service of an informed electorate and vigorous democracy, the Elections division is responsible for voter registration, the administration of all public elections within the county, and the maintenance of all related official records.

Typical responsibilities include: the candidate nomination process; initiative and referendum petitions; arguments and rebuttals for ballot measures; candidates' campaign statements and financial disclosure statements; voter registration and absentee ballots; management of polling places; and the computation and certification of voting results.

San Mateo County is very proud to be a leader among California counties in our voting technology and reputation for fast, fair, and accurate election results.

The Elections division is located at 40 Tower Road, San Mateo.

Go to Shape the Future, the Elections website
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