Obernolte
& Morrell - Fire Tax?
“Many property owners in my district suffer under this illegal tax,” stated
Assemblyman Obernolte. “I want to make sure as many constituents as possible
are informed about this issue and what actions are being taken to provide
relief to taxpayers.”
The Office of California Assembly 33rd District Assemblyman
Obernolte has announced that the community is encouraged to attend a Town
Hall meeting. The topic of interest is
the State
Fire Prevention Fee or more
appropriately referred to as the ‘Fire Tax’ issue, a great
concern of property owners in San Bernardino County including the Big Bear
Valley. The Town Hall Meeting is scheduled for Saturday May 16th in
Big Bear City. The meeting will begin at 9:00 A.M. in the Big BBARWA (Bear Area
Regional Wastewater Agency) conference room.
Senator
Michael Morrell will join Assemblyman
Jay Obernolte for the morning meeting. Property owners and
community members will have the opportunity to hear both of the legislators
explain the State Fire Prevention Fee Bill
#129, that they adamantly oppose and refer to as an illegal ‘Fire
Tax’. When the Bill passed in July 2011, it was to supplement the
CAL-FIRE budget.
Previous on this website: Obernolte on Illegal Fire Tax http://www.bigbearlake.net/etnews/illegal-fire-tax-meetings-
Recently, other Town Hall
meetings were held in Lake Arrowhead and in Lucerne Valley. More than
one hundred residents attended and learned more about a lawsuit that was filed
in October 2012, which challenges the validity of the State Fire Prevention Fee. The
Assemblyman and Senator both heard a unanimous opposition to the ‘Fire
Tax’ and clearly not one resident voiced in support of it.
Our own brand new assemblyman,
former City of Big Bear Lake Mayor Jay Obernolte didn’t hesitate to file his
first Bill, that at least would allow taxpayers some consideration/a grace
period of 60 days to pay the fee (per parcel) or a provision to dispute the
fee; as the current law allows only 30 days
to pay the total fee.
Those that attended the Town Hall
meetings found them most informative and expressed to the men how they found
the information useful. Host Assemblyman Obernolte hopes that many from the
Valley will attend the May 16th meeting, so that the ‘Fire
Tax’ will be clearly understood and why it is not lawful.
Senator Michael Morrell will
schedule a Town Hall meeting in Oak Hills soon; to be announced later.
BBARWA is
located at 121 Palomino Drive, east on SR-18 & Big Bear Boulevard to
intersection at SR-38 at Greenspot, stay to the left past the stop sign, cross
onto Shay Road, stay on Shay Road until Palomino Drive and turn left. BBARWA
building with parking spaces will be on the left.