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Rural residents to pay higher fire fee

November 11, 2011

Gov. Jerry Brown

Rural homeowners in San Luis Obispo County will be helping the state pay for fire prevention and protection with a $150 fee approved this week by a state board stacked with new appointees of Gov. Jerry Brown.

Brown has said he believes California has incurred higher costs for providing such protection because of rapidly-accelerating suburban growth on previously rural properties.

The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection approved a much lower fee last summer, which did not please the governor, who is seeking to raise $50 million annually through the assessment.

And after Brown’ efforts to raise the fees legislatively were torpedoed, he used his executive power to remodel the board with four new Democrats, and went back for a vote. This time, the higher fee proposal passed 6-2.

Most property owners will receive a $35 discount for living in a fire district; an estimated 90 percent of structures qualify for that savings.


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By the way democrat voters, don’t forget the assessment is per structure not by parcel. Now pay up suckers, and if you punched the democrat ticket, grin a bear it. You got what you voted for. Dig deep, the bureaucrats want your money.


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That “democrat” crap is the most kindergarden level insult out there. It does fit the level of most discussion on this site, but it sounds like something out of a professional wrestlers mouth.


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Let me tell you how it will be

There’s one for you, nineteen for me

‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small

Be thankful I don’t take it all

‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah I’m the taxman

If you drive a car, I’ll tax the street,If you try to sit,

I’ll tax your seat.If you get too cold I’ll tax the heat,

If you take a walk, I’ll tax your feet.

Don’t ask me what I want it for

If you don’t want to pay some more’

Cause I’m the taxman, yeah, I’m the taxman

Now my advice for those who die

Declare the pennies on your eyes

‘Cause I’m the taxman, yeah,

I’m the taxman

And you’re working for no one but me.


Beatles


I love the last line. You’re working for no one but me. Isn’t that the truth. For those who want to jump on this and say we don’t pay enough taxes, lets not forget the statistic folks that says we now work LONGER (till mid May) to pay taxes. Meaning for the taxes you pay on everything you don’t really start making money till May. The first five months of work are nothing but taxes. I’m talking all taxes.


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Another thought on this. You may only pay 15% income tax but think about it. In reality going to mid may you are really paying a total tax of almost 48%!! Yep bleed the masses slowly with franshise, sales tax etc. so they don’t notice.


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Federal gov is taking less than 15% of GDP, a 60+ year low. Overall gov spending is less than 25%!


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Most recent stats we are 28% compared to 36% for other countries.


http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/background/numbers/international.cfm


That is almost double your stated number of 15% BIG difference especially when you throw in the other countries to get the BIG pictuire.


Now go and spin us another one.


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And the rich, who have gained 279% since 1979 are paying less. But the other 99% of US who grew 40% since 1979? Are paying more since Ronnie doubled SS taxes to give tax cuts to the rich!!!


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I can see a wave of new Government jobs ahead. Cal Fire debt collection service.

We need a group in Sacramento (some cronnie of a politician that got fired for sexual harassment will do) with a large office and desk. Of course they will need an Administrative Assistant and 2 clerk typists.

This is just the start. Next we will need to have satellite offices throughout the state also manned by Supervisors, Administrative Assistants, Office equipment, computers, desks, files cabinets etc. Maybe a few investigators or collection agents per office. Of course do not forget the state retirement system, over time and benefits.


Look at all the new jobs our government has created!


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Well federal tax collections are at 60+ year low of less than 15% of GDP, where are those jobs from the “job creators”?


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They don’t get it and they never will.


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I recall when the house directly next door to the CDF in Santa Margarita burned to the ground. The residence was less than 1000 feet from the station. Nothing left but a pile of ashes….just sayin…


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Last neighborhood fire was quite a circus. Fire services pulled in and ran over the wharf head draining the storage tank, next somebody parked a pickup, keys locked inside while it was running and blocking access to the property unless the fences were run down. If it wasn’t for the neighbors and the homeowners dozer the house would have been lost. Damages caused by CDF fire vehicles far out weighted any actual fire damage, quite a cluster F it was.


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Frankly, I don’t see any reason why those who chose to live ‘away from everybody else’ shouldn’t pay for fire protection.

Too many people move into areas where there is wildlife and then they complain about it; that is what you get when you move into rural districts.

Why should I pay for those drops from the ‘fire’ planes just because a rich person chose to build a mcmansion up in the boonies? Sure, I would like to be rich enough to own a home in a rural area, but there are things that come with it that you have to be willing to pay for. And fire protection should be one of them.


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Go back under your rock. This fee is outrageous! We already pay increrased insurance premiums, fuel bills, and other fees.. Most of us rural residents dont live in mansions like you assume. I’m in the boonies, but certainly not rich.


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The only time that air drops are made on homes is when they are engulfed by wildland fires. Usually those fires are started by the people who live in urban areas that come to the rural area and and accidently start these fires. With that being the case maybe they should be paying the $150 also.

I guess the next thing is that the people in urban areas will pay $150 more because there is more crime in urban areas than there is in rural areas.

We’ll never win, we’ll be taxed and/or fee to death.


Can’t wait for 2012


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Fact: most rural areas have VOLUNTEER fire departments, and don’t need Cal Fire. Oh and by the way for you folks in the country, this is just the toe in the tub. The Green Weenies from Sacramento have another scam up their sleeves. They want to meter your private wells. You know, the one YOU payed to have drilled. The one YOU payed to have cased. The one YOU payed to sink the pump, and on and on. The Green Weenie, and his co-conspirators in Sacramento, will stop at nothing until every aspect of YOUR life is regulated based on THEIR narrative.


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And what “VOLUNTEER” fire departments have the ability to fight a (most expensive) wildland fire? If you look at the money spent each year to fight “the big ones,” it’s not to “save the trees,” it’s to save the people who choose to live amongst the trees. It’s a cost created by your choice. Should everyone else be expected to foot the bill for your choice?


ACTUALLY, YOU DO DESERVE FIRE PROTECTION. JUST NOT ON MY DOLLAR.

(Sounds kind of Libretarian, doesn’t it)


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Maybe not. The Federal Forest Guys say “let it burn”. Here in California Cal Fire says; “black forests means green wallets”! Cal Fire sucks A$$, this is the sole reason our insurance rates are so high in rural areas, because insurance companies know of Cal Fire’s poor response to Emergencies. Our local agencies have it down pat. Don’t start with distance; I have been in public service a long time. It isn’t distance, it is time. A few miles are nothing in time. Organization is key.


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The government does not like people living too far away from them. No telling what a private citizen might decide to do (or not do) on their own property so far away from the authorities. Better make the option of living rurally a difficult one to discourage others from doing it.


Next thing you know, they’ll start creating their own schools, educating themselves, and providing their own solutions to their own problems! Can you imagine such a nightmare?!


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LOL paranoid much? This is exactly how the right makes you people into their pawns, they feed you with these fear tactics and then next thing you know, you think the govt. doesn’t want you living in the country. If you only knew how very silly you sound. Joseph McCarthy ain’t got nothing on you.


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It isn’t paranoia, it’s highly likely. You seem to think your government doesn’t give a rats fanny about what you do as long as you pay your taxes and live within the law. I wanna live in your world.


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” I wanna live in your world.”


That would be the real world. I can understand the cynicism regarding the govt. but you guys take it too far. The govt. not wanting you to live in the country is simply paranoia and is symptomatic of what your leaders on the right have been pushing in your brains for years and years and that is fear. The right is a fear based party, with out fear they would have nothing. The left wants your guns they want your children, the terrorists are going to get you, the commies and socialism are coming to take our country, Sharia law is going to take over, the list goes on and on and now the govt doesn’t want you to live in the country. Do you not see how silly that sounds?


It’s pretty basic. Fire coverage cost more in the country. The govt. must provide fire protection for rural areas.


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They’re not always mcmansions, but I agree with the rest of your post, just commensense and for that you will get verbally beat up. Of course the cost to fight fires in the sticks costs more than in the the city. They say they want to opt out but as soon as the fire is creeping up the hill behind them and they’re on the phone with 911, they’d change their tune,,’I’ll pay I’ll pay, send the planes, send the trucks’.


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This is just another rip off by government. If you are in one of these rural districts you will be paying this surcharge for fire protection. Aren’t part of our taxes going towards fire protection like all other tax districts? Under the mutual aid agreement CDF will assist fire districts within incorporated areas paid for by these additional fees.

The pension plans of firefighters (remember Measure A & B) and usually their abuse of overtime is being

accepted by Brown to maintain the support of these unions. Once again we pay for their party.

Under Prop. 13 your taxes can only go up 2% a year. I’m sure this 5% fee (aka tax) will more than likely exceed the 2% limit of Prop. 13.


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How is this fee collected?


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Surgical strike on your wallet.


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Can the rurals opt out of CalFire protection avoid the fee?


Or maybe they could wage an Occupy Modoc to protest this seeming taxation without representation.


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It should be optional, keep in mind those more than 4 or 5 miles away from a fire station pay a pretty hefty bit extra for home owners insurance because of the probability of substantially cut back fire services inability to respond or contain fast enough to prevent major damage. Hows that old song go by the Blood Hound Gang…The roof, the roof, the roof is on fire…we don’t need no water let the M f’er burn.

Stay off my property I say, and I’ll keep my money Moonbeam. What next a tax for crapping to much as a result of eating greasy Mexican food?


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ya know,, i want to opt out and get a refund too! I have lots of water, fire hoses and plenty of people to protect my own property. Two years ago my elderly neighbor’s house burned, to the ground, and the wife died in the fire. Fire Department response was USELESS! In fact they all got stuck in the mud because of an overzealous volenteer getting his personal truck stuck in the driveway blocking the first responders. Guess who the first on the scene were; Not CAL Fire, but AFD, 12 miles out of their city!!!! what a joke !

Beam Brown back to the moon!


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