‘Some’ Property Owners Get Christmas Surprise - State Fire Tax Bills - Opinion

“Dear Property Owners,” (all that is missing is the plastic gloves),

Have you received your early Christmas present from your hard-working legislature?

Even the governor, in the spirit of taking, oops giving, signed the present into law. I suppose this is how they see themselves as Santa and the elves. Well, if you haven’t, you may very soon.

According to the advance notice, “some property owners will have to pay a fee to the State, for fire protection in the very near future.” You, if selected to be in the “Some” category, may have to pay $150 for every habitable structure on your property (s). This simple advance notice arrived in my mail yesterday. I must presume I am one of the chosen few.

Now, let us ask some common sense questions. Did any of us get, see or otherwise comment on this bill? Who are the “some property owners?” I wonder if the legislature is up to their old tricks again? Have they exempted themselves from this fee? Who decides, who the “Some Property Owners” are to pay this new fee? “Some” sounds very selective to me. Of course, we can protest this fee within 30 days of its arrival, but that would not be in the spirit of giving. However, that protest and $4.79 will buy you a gallon of gas at the current inflated price. This is typical of the laws passed by our state, local, and oh yes do not forget the federal government on a daily basis. No one knows anything till it bites you on the _____ and it is too late to stop it from becoming a law. I wonder if our legislature is on schedule to pass another 700 new laws like they did last year.

I know that firefighting is expensive, but do we ever see a cost breakdown in black and white on paper for a fire like the recent Ponderosa and Crips fires? No, all we get is the news medias, repeat of a Cal Fire “News release” “costing millions of dollars every day” for example.

Our firefighters, police, road maintenance people and our military have my deepest respect. They do their daily jobs with conviction and courage. These people are on the front lines, not the politicians. I’m sorry to say that I can only respect a few politicians the same way. These few politicians are not hard to find. They believe, in the Constitution, the people of this country, and the United States. Listen to their words, very closely and you will find them.

I saved the best for last; you can protest this law and any other decision by voting. Vote politicians (incumbents at every level of government) out of office in November they need to be retired by your vote. political offices were never meant to be life long careers. Vote them all out. The first half this November end the remainder during the next election. Enough of this.

BRIAN DEBERRY
Placerville