Fire fees under California state budget

[SkierBob]

If there is a refund, it should be double.  They'll think twice next time. 

[wrightwoodgirl]

Thanks we paid ours today and filed  a petitiontoo.  They give a 35.00 credit but we paid 226.00 on our tax bill for fire. Very unfair

[thehallmarks]

Has Wrightwood residents began to receive their fire fee billings from the California Board of Equalization?

If so I have yet to receive my billing!

[Wrightwood]

Hank that's probably for the LA County residents of Wrightwood which were suppose to be mailed a few weeks ago.

[thehallmarks]

[sharyn]

Has Wrightwood residents began to receive their fire fee billings from the California Board of Equalization?

If so I have yet to receive my billing!

They are not all mailed on same cycle.  I did not get it yet for my Phelan home but did receive it for my rental in Palmdale.

[SkierBob]

[Wrightwood]

Read the Class Action lawsuit: http://www.wrightwoodfsc.com/documents/FireTaxClassActionFiling.pdf

[Wrightwood]

The State of California is clearly demonstrating how far out of touch with spending reality they really are.

Why in the world would they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to mail property owners a color flyer with envelope and using 1st class postage to make an advance notice that a bill is coming soon?

What an incredible waste of money when they are broke.

Let's see.... 800,000 envelopes + 800,000 color flyers + 800,000 1st class postage

[Elk]

What an incredible waste of money when they are broke.

I opened the same envelope last night and had the same thought as Wrightwood. Ridiculous.

[Chesslike]

Yup, when I opened mine a couple of days ago it reminded me of something my grandfather always said:
"Expense is nothing we got plenty of it." 

[Wrightwood]

I called the Fire Prevention Fee Service Center to inquire about the mailing and here's what I learned so far:

It was initially going to be a post card mailing.
Questions about the mailings such as the cost and who authorized needs to directed to the State Board of Equalization.

[Bob C]

And the part I never understood was why they are taking months and months to do these separate "counties in alphabetical order" mailings. Jeeze, the Francise Tax Board mails out income tax forms and whatnot all at once to everyone... doesn't take them months to do it.

[kew]

[tcaarabians]

Ok.. is it just me?  It is probably me... the Luddite.. I cannot read anything on that map link.

 Must say I wasn't happy with that quote in the SBD Board of Supervisors news release that stated ,, the tax, fee, levy.. whatever you want to call it...could cause ..,, :"  long term disruptions in mutual aid between local, state and federal agencies ... in times of emergency..."   the Board said" ...  Must say that quote was somewhat biforcated.. so I wasn't certain as to who or whom was being quoted. I really do want to know who said that or if it was the entire BOS signing off on that statement.  I guess it sounded like a threat to me... so why? Why did our BOS put out a news release implying that this new 'choose your name for it" fire fee.. would impact mutual aid in a time of an emergency.

 I want to know why and I want to know exactly what they mean by that. Must say that the entire release, as posted here from SBD County,, did not read as a release from a government agency.. it read more as a campaign release.
Phooey,,, cheryl o7o
 

[tcaarabians]

Well, hey.... Just today   I too have  received my "Urgent Notice" notifying me that the bill would be coming. And, just to be sure I paid attention... well, hecky darns... they enclosed five copies of the "Advance Notice" in the envelope. And, in what appears to be four colors.

Here are some thoughts:

1) The State needs a new sorting house  ( my mind boggles at how much this could save);

2) Nothing says "fire" like black and white.. full color is just a waste of money (particularly if its just for the state seal).. but hey full color and a nice weight of paper and a semi-gloss .. we deserve that as taxpayers;

3) If they really felt they needed to let us know this was coming... a simple postcard.. as cheap as it could be.. just black & white... don't really think we need a picture.. that costs extra. And, we all get the concept of 'fire.'

4) This idea may not be possible under the legislation: But what if they just sent us the bloody bill and gave us 60 days to pay instead of thirty? Or,  is it not feasible to just attach it to our property tax bills... thus saving a lot of money?

Oh, cute house on the mailer.. not sure what those trees behind it might do.. but cute house. I still cannot believe I got five copies of the mailer in a number 10 envelope in full color. Oh, the "Urgent Notice" in red on the envelope also cost extra.  Is the cost of these mailings coming out of our new 'fire fee"?  What idiot is responsible for this?  later, cheryl o7o

[tcaarabians]

Sorry,, I forgot to mention the semi-gloss on the paper was also on the blank side.  I just have to wonder what printer took the state for this.  I don't see a 'union logo' on it.. so I do not know.  Tho, there is some logo of somesort.. on the bottom right in half-tones or less. Sorry, I don't have glasses strong enough to read it.

So, since our Board of Equalization is charged with collecting this.. is their budget responsible for this.. or will they just bill the new "fire fund" for it?

I'm not annoyed so much about the fire fees... if they go to our firefighters... I am truly annoyed about this wasteful mailing.
later, cheryl o7o

[sharyn]

Cheryl I'm with you on the useless mailings.  I remember one of the utilities doing a big campaign about their name change.  Called to complain & ask where the money is coming from.  Got some flunky on the phone who just kept saying advertising fees are already paid for....well, yeah I paid for it I think!

[Bob C]

Or,  is it not feasible to just attach it to our property tax bills... thus saving a lot of money?

Well, since this isn't a "tax", they won't put it on your property tax bill. Besides, those go to the county, not the state. I'm sure the counties would not want to be handling money for the state without being compensated, and I'm sure the state doesn't want to let counties possess money the state earmarked for itself (the state is already raping county finances).

I would have thought a new "line" on the income tax forms would have done the same thing, but I suppose they can't do that either (since this is a "fee" and not a tax). Besides, the state doesn't want to wait until April 2013 to start getting money. They want money now.

I don't understand why all the separate "by county" mailings, and I certainly don't understand the advance notice they've also been sending out. Again, the state doesn't do that with income tax forms.

It does boggle the mind. I hope the Jarvis group is successfull with their lawsuit in stopping this. And if they actually do manage to stop it, the state still held a lot of people's money with no interest for quite some time. Nice way to get a 0% loan, huh?

Its way too easy for the state to waste money, especially when it's not theirs.

[Tom]

Got my UGENT envelope.  When I opened it, only had paper with name and address on it. Those who vote 5 fliers probably got mine.  The money they collect will probably be spent with the same care and attention to detail.  More waste!!!

Tom