SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif- If you live in unincorporated areas of your county, check your mailbox, a new bill is on its way. The state passed a new fire safety fee last year. More than 800-thousand people in California will be paying the 150-dollar fee. In San Luis Obispo County 30-thousand people will receive this new bill in the mail.
Those who pay local taxes for fire service, which is everyone in SLO County, will receive a 35-dollar discount making the fee 115-dollars a year. The fee's will cover, "fire prevention programs, law enforcement programs, public education, vegetation removal, those kind of programs that either prevent fires or make fire less catastrophic," says Cal Fire Chief Robert Lewin. The money will not be used for fire fighting forces.
The fee is 115-dollars for each habitable structure. So if you have a cottage for example in the back of your house, you will have to pay an additional 115-dollars. Avila Valley is one of those areas. I asked a resident, Joe Rappa if the new bill would be a burden he said, "it can be I suppose, right now I'm ok with it, if I see results from it regardless if its for here or else where that's fine if they need it that bad."
Another resident said she already takes good care of her property and she shouldn't have to pay any more money to the state. These bills will be sent out alphabetically by county. Alameda County was the first in California to receive the bill,
Information: www.firepreventionfee.org
