Author Topic: Fire fees under California state budget (Read 378169 times)

tcaarabians · « **Reply #120 on:** Oct 18, 12, 09:46:39 PM »

Tom.. If I hadn't already thrown my five fliers out.. I'd send one to you.. but you can scroll backwards here to see what you missed out on. It isn't much .. other than it was pretty the way they did it and totally not necessary. I'm thinking the little icon on the bottom in the right hand corner .. may have been a union bug. But, I'm not sure.. since I cannot read it.

And, since the state may be trying to show they are using union printers.. it would be interesting to know if the sorting house was also union. From years of overseeing printer jobs.. I can tell you that a good number of union houses will farm the job out and just put their 'union bug' on it. Yup,that is what they do. You wind up paying for the logo to be politically correct. cheryl o7o

3PinkRoses · « **Reply #121 on:** Oct 18, 12, 10:47:07 PM »

May I please add~~ I have an elderly friend who asked me the other day... "What if I don't pay it?" I really didn't know any other answer answer because I think we HAVE to pay it..right? I told her to "Pay it." ~~and she's on tight, tight fixed income!

Wrightwood · « **Reply #122 on:** Oct 18, 12, 11:32:23 PM »

Anyone thinking about not paying better be careful as the penalties are very strict.

From: http://firetaxprotest.org/?page_id=10

PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DUE DATE. You may have fewer than 30 days to pay. If you are late, there is a 20% penalty, plus interest. Every 30 days after that, another 20% penalty is added, plus interest. The fee is a lien on your property, and failure to pay can result in foreclosure.

Chesslike · « **Reply #123 on:** Oct 18, 12, 11:32:57 PM »

Chesslike · « **Reply #124 on:** Oct 19, 12, 12:00:36 AM »

Here is a copy of a recent press release from the County of San Bernardino about the tax that we received last night at a meeting of the Inland Empire Fire Safe Alliance:
http://www.sbcounty.gov/uploads/CAO/pressreleases/content/SRA_Fire_Tax_PR_10-12-12_FINAL.pdf

It was recommended that everyone go on the site http://firepreventionfee.org and register your complaints about this illegal tax as all complaints are reviewed and reported weekly. I have looked around the site and am not sure where emails should be directed. I will try to get clarification and report back.

tcaarabians · « **Reply #125 on:** Oct 19, 12, 12:25:05 AM »

Just a note: The "Alert" message I received did not say anything about 'payment plans." Sheesh,, the whole other side of the darn thing was blank. There could have been room for it there. .. Not to mention on the 8x11 insert that had nothing on it but my name and address because they used a 'window envelope' .. instead of just printing our name on the envelope. They could have printed the entire message on that insert. But, I quibble. I think I will continue to quibble. And, I think that stupid decisions should come out of the BOE's budget instead of deducting them from the 'fire fees' for their enforcement. But, one way or the other.. we will all wind up paying for it. cheryl o7o

Jirka · « **Reply #126 on:** Oct 19, 12, 01:22:39 AM »

I was intrigued so I looked closer. I put on my reading glasses . . . under a strong light using a magnifying glass it was still very hard to read with the dotted background, but there it was . . . an SEIU, CTW, CLC union label. Huh.

Cheryl, if you hadn't remarked on it in your post I would never have noticed it. But I have to wonder if they went to the trouble of putting the label there, why make it so hard to read? (shrugs shoulders)

thehallmarks · « **Reply #127 on:** Oct 19, 12, 01:26:15 AM »

This information is what I was referring to Sunday.

The brochure advises taxpayers that they will have 30 days to either pay the tax or protest the amount of the bill in writing. Questions are referred to a toll-free phone number, 888-310-6447, or www.firepreventionfee.org.

Unless, it states elsewhere you must pay the fee and then protest the amount.

roynlorimoore · « **Reply #128 on:** Oct 25, 12, 02:35:13 AM »

The October 2012 American Motorcycle Association magazine reported that the OHV funds had been robbed of $7 million to pay for other things. The new budget passed and became effective on July 1, 2012 and very shortly after that California "found" a whopping $423 million that was unaccounted for and was found in accounts "nobody knew about". REALLY? And, now we have to pay a fee (tax) of $150 yearly to pay for who knows what? I had heard that the State Parks Dept (I think) had found somewhere in the neighborhood of $35 million suddenly as well. Donations given by private citizens and such to help keep parks open weren't returned upon the discoverly of this $35 million and California still needs us to turn over $150 and give us nothing in return? I thought theft and fraud were illegal?

Chesslike · « **Reply #129 on:** Oct 25, 12, 06:56:44 AM »

New Fire-Prevention Fee Draws Heat
State officials announced the $150 fee earlier this year, but it still came as a surprise for some homeowners.
By Craig Fiegener and Bill French
| Wednesday, Oct 24, 2012 | Updated 11:21 PM PDT

Across California, some 825,000 residents are receiving notices about the state's new Fire Prevention Fee. Creation of the charge was no secret, but many people had not heard about it until this week.

"It's very shocking," said Anita Phillips, of Crestline, who received the letter a couple days ago.

Residents are being asked to pay $150 to cover the cost of fighting fires in heavily wooded areas where the state is responsible for fire prevention. But for Phillips, it comes just as she's struggling to modify her mortgage.

Some residents say it's the wrong time for unexpected bills, especially in the Inland Empire, where people are trying to recover from a badly-beaten economy.

Without question, Crestline is an area that has faced terrible fire threats. The Governor signed the Fire Prevention Fee law last July to help battle fires in areas similar to Crestline.

The language in the new law reads this way: "The law established a new annual Fire Prevention Fee to pay for fire prevention services within the State Responsibility Area. This fee is assessed on owners of habitable structures."

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association considers it such an unfair levy that it plans to fight the fee in court. Others see it as a worthwhile expense.

"We need it," said Crestline resident Bridgitte Nowakowski. "Firefighters are here to help us keep our homes so they don't burn down. So what is $150? That's nothing."

If everybody pays it, the fee will raise more than $123 million. Phillips says she doesn't like what she sees as heavy-handed language in the letter.

"Well yeah, not be so demanding, and say they will foreclose on our homes if we don't pay and impose a 20 percent penalty if we don't pay," she said.

For now, the Fire Prevention Fee is state law and it's coming due. At least until a judge says otherwise.

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Complaints-Grow-About-New-Fire-Prevention-Bills-175707431.html

free2bee · « **Reply #130 on:** Oct 25, 12, 01:52:56 PM »

We got a notice saying we 'would' be billed. I suppose another mailing of The Bill due and payable will arrive soon?

snwbnny · « **Reply #131 on:** Oct 29, 12, 11:26:08 PM »

Just got our $115 bill today.

InTheWood · « **Reply #132 on:** Oct 30, 12, 12:02:46 AM »

I got a bill today as well.

Is this fee going to be applied to houses in Phelan/Pinon Hills etc. as well as Wrightwood?

lcadder · « **Reply #133 on:** Oct 30, 12, 12:08:33 AM »

yes, it's down here too. I'm in PH, and I received my notice, no bill yet, but my technicolor notice

assilem · « **Reply #134 on:** Oct 30, 12, 03:23:33 AM »

Does anyone have an answer? My bill was also $115. Can I still apply for the $35 rebate ?

Wrightwood · « **Reply #135 on:** Oct 30, 12, 03:35:43 AM »

The correct amount for this area is $115 total. That's with the $35 deduction.

Quote

Does anyone have an answer? My bill was also $115. Can I still apply for the $35 rebate ?

Make sure to protest after paying, as stated in previous posts.

Wrightwood · « **Reply #136 on:** Oct 30, 12, 03:40:37 AM »

ForestGal · « **Reply #137 on:** Oct 30, 12, 03:58:25 AM »

I knew there was a reason I didn't bother to go to the PO today, I guess that subconsciously, I didn't want to see this stupid bill.

It's not like I can't afford it, it's the principle. Thanks for posting what we should do to protest. I will definitely follow these instructions.

kew · « **Reply #138 on:** Oct 30, 12, 04:47:36 AM »

Quote from: ForestGal on Oct 30, 12, 03:58:25 AM

I knew there was a reason I didn't bother to go to the PO today, I guess that subconsciously, I didn't want to see this stupid bill.

It's not like I can't afford it, it's the principle.

Same here, but I guess I should probably go tomorrow and pick it up and resist the desire to through it in the trash.

ForestGal · « **Reply #139 on:** Oct 30, 12, 04:54:53 AM »

OK here's another question. I understand that failure to pay can result in foreclosure on your property. If you own your property, and do NOT have a mortgage, can they still foreclose? For failing to pay a lousy $115?

Author Topic: Fire fees under California state budget (Read 378169 times)

Chesslike

Chesslike

roynlorimoore

Chesslike

free2bee

snwbnny

InTheWood

assilem

kew