Inyo County opposes it, you can appeal it, but the State of California will bill you soon to help cover state fire costs. It’s called State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Benefit Fee. It’s roughly $150 per habitable structure. There is more. Here is Inyo’s official press release:
The “State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire Prevention Benefit Fee” was enacted by the State of California on July 7th of 2011 (via Assembly Bill X1 29). Inyo County has a strong and on-going opposition to these fees.
The annual fee, which is $150 per habitable structure (i.e., meaning a building that can be occupied for residential use), is being assessed by the State of California as a way to pay for fire prevention services within SRAs, which are typically rural areas where the State of California is financially responsible for the prevention and suppression of wildfires. Habitable structures that are located within both an SRA and a local fire district are allowed a $35 reduction in the annual $150 fee. The person/entity responsible for paying the annual fee is the person/entity identified as the “owner of record” on July 1st of each year. The State Board of Equalization expects bills (i.e., for Fiscal Year 2011-2012, which was from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012) to be sent out over a period of about 4 months, starting in August of 2012; payment of the fee is due within 30 days.
There is a process for appeal of the fee (known as a “Petition for Redetermination”), which will be detailed and mailed with the bills. Appeals are processed through the Department of Forestry & Fire Protection. It should be noted that appeals must be filed with the Department of Forestry & Fire Protection within 30 days of receiving a bill, with a decision on the appeal made by the Department within 60 days of receipt of the appeal.
Additional information on the SRA Fire Prevention Fee, including a “sample bill”, a series of FAQs (i.e., “Facts and Questions”), and County SRA maps, can be found on the Inyo County Planning Department’s website @ www.inyoplanning.org, under “Current Projects,” or via a link on the County’s main webpage @ www.inyocounty.us
Uh-oh! Judging by the number of “thumbs down”, it’s clear that this blog’s posters are predominately Right-wing who detest the live-and-let-live life philosophy – and their anger and deep-seated depression shows. In this state, the majority are not communists as the right-wingers insist they are, don’t mind paying their fair… Read more »
Ya got that right!!
What do we pay taxes for? FOI is doing the forest service’s job and the Yost lake trailhead has been out of commision for 2 yrs now, We have to raise money for our kids school supplies, We have adopt a highway so we the taxpayers can do the job… Read more »
Liberalism- won’t it be better to donate our hard earn money to our local volunteer firefighters? They are the ones that are going to save our ass, with or without this fee.
Yes..I do that also….I think CAl Fire is going to help save my ass also..they are professional Firefighters as opposed to volunteers.
Yes..I do that also..I would like professional Firefighters like Cal Fire to help out also and it’s worth paying extra for…
This is a good thing. If we live in rural areas we should pay extra for fire protection. Everyone needs to stop complaining. Ya gotta pay to play..if you want fire protection.
So(insert painfully loud scream), let me see if I understand correctly…. The State is sending me a bill, retroactively, for fire suppression service for my home. The State fire truck is parked in a facility that, under perfect weather conditions is, is located one and a half hours away from… Read more »
Russ- good point on the prop 13 tax issues. This sure smells like a property tax.
I have spent several thousand dollars and another hundred hours making my place brush fire proof. I do not need them to protect me from wild fires. I have taken responsibility for my own wild fire protection and I am admittedly against a wild fire fee. When they inspected my… Read more »
So now I get ya Mark .. a little piousness there, glad you’re looking so good and prepared, so preach to the choir. I don’t have to worry about mine either, especially if the forest service takes care of their land adjoining mine. There are many who do protect their… Read more »
Sorry Big Al
But your postings regarding liberals indicate you generalize all the time.
Since California is known for its liberal slant (live-and-let-live) wouldn’t you be profoundly happier and far less miserable in a state like Utah?
You might as well get used to it. Can’t expect the rich to pick up the tab and start paying taxes. Now they are successful in duping a lot of little guys into thinking it would be a great idea to pay even less taxes … so what’s left will… Read more »
Can you say Double Taxation? Those of us in Rural Fire ProtectionDistricts are already taxed for fire Protection! Bishop Fire Chief Ray Seguine is admantly opposed to this. This plan is pure desperation by a desperate Governor who won’t make the meaningful cuts he needs to to make the state… Read more »
Does anybody know what happens if anything if we do not pay this fee as it is double taxation?
I am sure it is attached to you Parcel tax.. The county will collect it for them… IF you don’t pay.. they will take your property. Legalized Extortion Govt gone Hog WILD Since they can No Longer raise taxes ..They will impose higher and higher FEES get ready for the… Read more »
Check out story we just posted. The Board of Equalization collects the tax and levies penalties.
Benett
What the hell are taxes for? How is it we have to pay fees on top of taxes for the same thing our taxes are supposed to be paying for. What happens if you don’t pay the fee? Do they come burn your house to the ground?
There goes another $150 bucks of mine that will just get pissed away. Anybody know how to read the city planners map? If I’m inside the red area does mean I have to pay?
Also, I am hoping to here what grounds I can appeal this selective tax on.
just another Fee to help protect their HUGE Pensions