Statement by Assemblymember Olsen on the Increased Fire Tax

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, today issued the following statement regarding the decision by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection to increase the tax on buildings located in "State Responsibility Areas" (SRAs):
"It is outrageous that the Fire Board voted to increase the fire tax to the maximum of $150. There is no guarantee that services will be increased for those who pay this tax and the new revenues that the fire tax will generate will not boost existing firefighting resources. Additionally, in many rural communities, homeowners already pay additional property taxes approved by local voters to pay for fire protection."