(Reprint) Letter to the Editor re: Fire Tax Protest

Dear Editor,

The Calaveras County Taxpayers Association urges taxpayers to take action on the "Fire Tax"by using the protest procedure developed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association which is also suing the state to overturn this tax. Action suggested is challenging the tax and requesting a refund.

The Fire Tax Protest site (FireTaxProtest.org) is a one-stop resource for taxpayers who wish to protest the new fire tax, learn more information about their rights, or join a class action lawsuit to overturn what HJTA believes to be an unlawful tax.

”The fire tax is in direct violation of Prop. 13, and it represents an additional burden on rural homeowners who are already suffering in this economy,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “This new tax ... represents the worst of Sacramento -- taking more money from hardworking people for a program they were already paying for, to cover the politicians' budget gap. Today we (HJTA) are offering a new tool for homeowners to protest this new tax.”

The Jarvis group, supported by the Calaveras County Taxpayer Association, is preparing to challenge the tax constitutionally in court on the grounds it should have been subject to the two-thirds vote requirement in the Legislature. 

Although taxpayers must pay the bill, the HJTA site shows how to protest the fee in order to be eligible for a refund. There they can sign up for free email bulletins that will keep them informed of the progress of the taxpayers' suit against the state of California. “It is our goal to help taxpayers get relief,” added Coupal. “We are committed to fighting these illegal taxes to ensure taxpayers have their day in court.”

Letter to the Editor re: Fire Tax Protest

Dear Editor,

The Calaveras County Taxpayers Association urges taxpayers to take action on the "Fire Tax"by using the protest procedure developed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association which is also suing the state to overturn this tax. Action suggested is challenging the tax and requesting a refund.

The Fire Tax Protest site (FireTaxProtest.org) is a one-stop resource for taxpayers who wish to protest the new fire tax, learn more information about their rights, or join a class action lawsuit to overturn what HJTA believes to be an unlawful tax.

”The fire tax is in direct violation of Prop. 13, and it represents an additional burden on rural homeowners who are already suffering in this economy,” said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. “This new tax ... represents the worst of Sacramento -- taking more money from hardworking people for a program they were already paying for, to cover the politicians' budget gap. Today we (HJTA) are offering a new tool for homeowners to protest this new tax.”

The Jarvis group, supported by the Calaveras County Taxpayer Association, is preparing to challenge the tax constitutionally in court on the grounds it should have been subject to the two-thirds vote requirement in the Legislature. 

Assembly moves to repeal fire fee - SF Gate

The end of the legislative session is less than a week away and the chess game over getting bills passed is nearing its always-dramatic finish.
Earlier today, the Assembly inserted language into bill in order to repeal the $150 fire prevention fee for homeowners in state responsibility areas. You can read all about that fee here.
To cover the $90 million that would have been raised by the fee – which opponents call an illegal tax – a different bill is to be amended next week. That bill, AB1500, would fund a major reduction in tuition and fees at the University of California and California State University for middle class students. Read more about that here.
So what will happen is that out of the approximately $1 billion in revenue raised by AB1500– which comes through a change in how corporate taxes are calculated – $90 million will be set aside to cover for the loss of the fire fee.
READ MORE SFGATE.COM

SB 1040 ammended 8-27-12 - repeal of fire fee

BILL NUMBER: SB 1040 AMENDED
 BILL TEXT

 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 27, 2012
 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 24, 2012
 AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 25, 2012

INTRODUCED BY   Senator  Negrete McLeod   Evans

   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Nestande)
   (Coauthor: Assembly Member Chesbro)

                        FEBRUARY 6, 2012

   An act to repeal Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 4210) of
Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, relating to fire
prevention, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately.

Fire Tax Protest by Howard Jarvis Tax Payers Association

Today the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association launched a new website to inform more than 800,000 homeowners across California how to qualify for a refund on the new fire tax.

The Fire Tax Protest site will serve as a one-stop resource for taxpayers who wish to protest the new fire tax, learn more information about their rights, or join a class action lawsuit to overturn what HJTA believes to be an unlawful tax.

Senator Gaines on NEW LEGISLATIVE EFFORT TO REPEAL ILLEGAL FIRE TAX

NEW LEGISLATIVE EFFORT TO REPEAL ILLEGAL FIRE TAX

Senator Gaines supports effort to repeal the fire tax.

I reported on this in a “Special Edition” of the Gaines Gazette, but thought it was worth repeating here in case you missed it…

I recently stood with fellow legislative Republicans and California’s rural residents to announce Assembly Bill 1506 (R–Jeffries), a measure to repeal the fire tax.

This $150 fire tax is illegal and unfair– plain and simple. Many rural property owners already pay local fire agencies for protection so it is clearly double-taxation and it is being dumped on the backs of rural Californians when the state has 11–percent unemployment and families are struggling just to make ends meet.

Assemblymembers Olsen and Jeffries Introduce Bill to Repeal Fire Taxfire tax

On September 2, 2011 Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, and Assemblymember Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, introduced a bill to repeal the State Responsibility Area Fee passed in June. Assembly Bill X1 45, will repeal the fire tax that was passed as part of this year’s Democrat majority vote budget.  The state fire board recently passed emergency regulations that set the tax starting at $70 - $90 per structure in “State Responsibility Areas” located primarily in rural and unincorporated parts of the state. “I’m proud to be a principal co-author of ABx1 45,” said Olsen. “The State Responsibility Area Fee was hastily passed without having been properly vetted by policy and fiscal committees. Repealing this illegal fee is the right thing to do to prevent rural residents from being double taxed without increased fire protection.”