The San Bernardino County Fire Department has a shortfall of $29 million. To increase its revenues so it can maintain its services throughout the county, the county Board of Supervisors has authorized the expansion of fire protection zone 5 to include most of the county, including Yucca Valley and most of the county’s unincorporated areas. (Twentynine Palms is already in the FP-5 zone.) Along with the expansion comes a fire protection fee of $157.26 on each parcel within the fire protection zone. Managing editor Tami Roleff says the last day to mail in your vote to protest the expansion is Friday…
The last day to mail in your ballot to protest the expansion of FP-5 is Friday, October 12. Ballots must be received at the County by close of business on Monday, October 15, although ballots can be turned in during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday, October 16. If at least 25 percent of property owners who own at least 25 percent of the total impacted land value submit protest letters to the County, then an election will be triggered. If at least 50 percent of property owners who own at least 50 percent of the total impacted land value submit protest letters to the County, the expansion will be terminated. An outside organization has been hired to count and tabulate the ballots during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on Tuesday morning. Residents may watch the meeting via a live video link at the Joshua Tree Government Center on Whitefeather Road in Joshua Tree.
MAIL IN YOUR FP-5 PROTEST VOTE BY FRIDAY
