At tomorrow’s 10 a.m. meeting of county supervisors in San Bernardino, supervisors are expected to add a 3 percent increase to the new Fire Protection Zone 5 fire tax, continued from the May 21 meeting. Here’s reporter Mike Lipsitz with the details …
The 3 percent increase in the per parcel fire tax will bring next year’s total to $162 up from this year’s $157. The tax applies to every property in Fire Protection Zone 5, which last year was expanded to nearly all county unincorporated areas plus some municipalities including Yucca Valley– more than 19,000 square miles in total. The higher charge will show up on next year’s property tax bills and apply to every parcel be it unimproved or home to a McMansion. The courts have ruled against two lawsuits aimed at reversing the expanded zone. The case may come up again in appeal, but not before this year’s property tax bills go out. Nevertheless, some community groups are encouraging property owners to speak out against the expanded zone and associated tax.
In Morongo Basin the public may comment via live video link from the first-floor teleconferencing room in the County Government Center on White Feather Road in Joshua Tree.
