Supervisors Voice Opposition

Sonora, CA — Tuolumne County Administrator Craig Pedro described changes planned for the state’s new rural fire fee as going from “bad to worse.”

The County Supervisors voted 4-0 Tuesday to send a letter of opposition to Governor Jerry Brown regarding his plan to increase the SRA Fee from $150 to $175. Most homeowners in the Mother Lode region would end up only paying the original $150, however, because there is a $25 discount for property owners that live within an established fire protection district. Brown is also calling for a $1 fee per acre of land owned for the first 100 acres, 50 cents per acre for the next 900, and 25 cents per acre for any additional, not to exceed $3,000.

The fees would apply to property owners in the State Responsibility Areas of CAL Fire. Lawmakers are expected to discuss the proposed fee changes later this week in Sacramento.