The Assessor (1) establishes the assessed value of your property by appraising your property as required by State Law. The assessed value of your property is placed on a list called the Assessment Roll.
The Assessor then sends the Property Owner (2) a valuation card/ letter which contains the valuation of the property as of January 1. Around the same time, the Assessor sends the Assessment Roll to the Auditor Controller (3).
The Auditor Controller (3) calculates the ad valorem tax rates and applies them, along with Mello Roos taxes and special assessments from taxing authorities (5) such as cities, schools, county and special districts, to the assessed value from the Assessment Roll, creating the Extended Tax Roll.
The Tax Collector (4) uses the Extended Tax Roll to print the Tax Bill which is sent to the Property Owner. When the Tax Bill is paid, the Tax Collector records that payment against the tax balance due and releases the money to the Auditor Controller(3).
The Auditor Controller (3) then distributes the tax dollars to the appropriate taxing authorities (5), such as cities, schools, county and special districts. (See "Where Your Tax Dollar Goes")
See "How the Revision/Refund Tax System Works"
