Novato Deserves Better. Let’s Build It Together.
Novato Stewards is a growing community of residents working to improve how our local government serves us. We study budgets, ask tough questions, and put real reform options on the ballot — so every neighbor has a voice in how our city, schools, fire, water, and sanitary districts are run.
Why This Matters
Novato has over $95 million in unfunded infrastructure and deferred maintenance on the books. Streets have a $40 million backlog. The school district's parcel tax has lost nearly half its purchasing power since 2009. And Measure M sends less than a quarter of its revenue to capital projects, with the rest absorbed by deficit backfill, staffing, and pensions.
Every agency publishes documents and holds open meetings. But none are designed so a resident with a full-time job can realistically identify these problems, understand the fiscal context, or have any assurance their input will matter. The information is public. The access is not.
What’s Coming
Late March 2026 — NUSD analysis published
Mid-April 2026 — Community presentation
Late April 2026 — Petition draft released
Early May 2026 — Signature gathering begins
June 2026 — Ballot filing deadline
Fall 2026 — Square-footage based parcel ballot target date
Get Involved
Your involvement is completely private. No membership lists, no public meetings, no social media posts with your name. We'll follow up with a private briefing and opportunities to help shape upcoming ballot measures.