When the County Board of Supervisors meet at 10 a.m. today in San Bernardino, they’re expected to approve a three-percent cost of living increase to the controversial Fire Protection District Zone 5, or FP-5, special tax that is imposed indiscriminately on every parcel in the sprawling 19,000 square mile district. Reporter Mike Lipsitz is here with details including how much landowners will have to pay for each parcel…
For fiscal 2021-22, landowners can expect to pay $161.98, or an additional $4.72, per parcel whether it’s developed or not. Altogether, the tax is expected to generate nearly $43 million that the County Fire Department says is necessary to provide service. The tax was approved by county supervisors in October of 2018. The following year the tax survived several legal challenges and a voter-led effort to recall it.
(1) The public may view the Board Meeting live stream at http://www.sbcounty.gov/Main/Pages/ViewMeetings.aspx
(2) If you wish to make a comment on a specific agenda item or a general public comment prior to the Board meeting, submit comments via U.S. Mail*, email at [email protected] or online at http://www.sbcounty.gov/cob/publiccomments/default.aspx
Comments received prior to the start of the meeting will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for review;
(3) If you wish to make a comment on a specific item or a general public comment while watching the live stream, submit comments, limited to 250 words or less, to the Clerk of the Board at http://www.sbcounty.gov/cob/publiccomments/default.aspx
Comments received prior to the end of the meeting will be provided to the Board of Supervisors after the meeting;
(4) If attending the meeting in person, facial coverings and a temperature reading are required. Seating in the board chambers is limited to maintain appropriate social distancing. Additional seating with video and audio of the meeting is available in the Joshua Room and the Rotunda, located on the first floor of the Government Center, adjacent to the chambers.
Any person interested in viewing or addressing the Board during a meeting by interactive video may do so at the Bob Burke Joshua Tree Government Center, 63665 Twentynine Palms Highway, in Joshua Tree.
