The Feb. 19 article regarding the Rural Fire Fee (tax) mentioned how Sacramento is worried about the money being improperly spent, but it didn’t bring up the most important points:

1. The fee is double taxation for some properties.

2. The state does not have jurisdiction over some areas.

3. The fees were based on outdated information.

I own a residence in Los Osos and received a bill for this “fee.” I paid the bill and sent a protest letter to the state because it based its jurisdiction on data collected in the early 1990s, which is now outdated.

In 1999, we formed a Community Services District that has primary responsibility for fire protection. This is funded through a special assessment on our property tax bills.

Our property is within a residential section and is protected by Cal Fire under the fees we already pay, but the state has determined I have to pay the additional fee (tax) anyway.

There are more than 800,000 properties affected in California.

This fee is an illegal tax under Proposition 13, and requires a Proposition 218 vote to be legal.

I urge your support of Sen. Ted Gaines’ efforts (SB 17) to repeal this tax:  http://firetaxprotest.org.