Plan to Issue Rural Fire Tax Bills Starting in August Angers Yucaipa Assemblyman

A California Board of Equalization plan to begin issuing new fire tax bills to rural residents in August drew sharp criticism from the state assemblyman for Yucaipa on Monday.

"As a rural Californian, I'm deeply troubled that the Governor is rolling out his fire tax on rural residents under the false banner of providing fire protection," Assemblyman Paul Cook, R-Yucca Valley, said in a statement distributed by his staff.

Cook represents the 65th Assembly District that includes the fire-prone communities of Yucaipa, Calimesa, as well as San Bernardino Mountain towns northeast of Redlands and Loma Linda.

"Throughout the state, every building in a designated State Responsibility Area will be taxed $150, and owners will soon receive the bills in their mailboxes," Cook said. "In San Bernardino County alone, over 65,000 structures will be taxed. Revenue estimates project that the Fire Tax will eventually bleed over $100 million from rural Californians in the coming years."

Cook authored a bill last year with Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, to repeal the fire tax but it did not pass the Assembly.  

"Despite this setback, it's crucial that we continue our effort to repeal the Fire Tax, which is unfair and singles out rural Californians unfairly," Cook said. "Rural Californians didn't create the state's fiscal mess; urban interests did. We shouldn't have to help bail them out."

Cook said he is working with other lawmakers to introduce another version of his bill in January during the Legislature's next session.

"With tax bills now being issued, the pain will be very real for many of my constituents," Cook said. "We need to redouble our efforts to put an end to this illegal tax." 

Beginning in August, rural homeowners in California will receive the first round of tax bills from the Board of Equalization for the 2011-12 fiscal year, according to Cook's staff.

The arrival of the tax bill depends on the alphabetical position of the county in which homeowner resides, according to Cook's staff. The final round of billing will take place in December. In March 2013, the Board of Equalization will begin billing for the 2012-13 fiscal year.

Cook is termed out in the Assembly. He abandoned his run for San Bernardino County Third District supervisor in February and to run for Congress in the new 8th District, which includes parts of San Bernardino, Mono and Inyo counites.

Cook finished second in the June 5 primary in Congressional District 8, according to certified final results. In November he faces Gregg Imus, R-Blue Jay, who finished first in District 8. Imus' supporters include the Mountain Area Tea Party and groups.

A pdf map of the new 8th District is attached to this report.