California’s $150 Fire Prevention Fee to Property Owners…Fee or Tax and will it be Repealed
SRA-State Responsibility Area, boundaries were developed by the California State Forestry and Fire Protection and a $150 fee to each parcel in these areas was created in June 2011 and approved by the California Legislature in July 2011. There are approximately 825,000 rural parcels affected by this fee.
On the State of California Website, there is a map that anyone can go to and see if their home is in this SRA area. This went into effect July 2012 and bills have already been sent out to homeowners to pay the annual levy $150 fee. If the parcel is in a fire district, there will be a $35 reduction on your bill.
As you can imagine, there has been a lot of controversy over this fee and now there is an argument as to whether this is a FEE or a TAX. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association claims this is really a tax and would have required a 2/3 majority vote to be legal therefore the association has filed a lawsuit with Sacramento Superior Court against the State of California. They believe this is an illegal tax under Proposition 13.
Here is the link to the updated map so if you have a question as to whether you are in this SRA area, click here.
What can you do? If you receive a bill, you must pay it or they will access a 20% penalty fee every 30 days on top of the $150 fee owed. This unpaid bill will become a lien and the state could get a judgment and foreclose on your property. PAY THIS BILL.
If you wish to be part of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association, click here and file a petition to receive your fee back if they are successful in repealing this fee….or tax?
Any Comments or are you in this area? Have you received your bill yet?
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