Come this November owners of property within the county’s more than 19,000-square-mile Fire Protection District 5 will see the new $157 per parcel fee added to property tax bills. First conceived of by County Fire administrators, the fee was to provide a steady revenue stream and bail the department out of a $29 million budget shortfall. And despite near universal public opposition, the fee has survived a dubious public protest vote, attempted court injunctions, and at least two lawsuits. So at this point any reasonable person would have to conclude the battle has been lost and the fee is here to stay; but they’d be wrong. Reporter Mike Lipsitz picks up the story from here…
In June, even before property owners had seen their first tax bill with the new fee added, county fire sought a three percent increase to next year’s fee. What they failed to calculate was that the third district supervisorial seat vacated by fee proponent James Ramos had been filled by Morongo Basin’s own, Dawn Rowe, who had been vocal in her opposition to the fee and the process by which it was imposed even before her appointment. At their June 11 meeting county supervisors passed a resolution imposing a three-year sunset clause ending the fee and directing the county CEO to report back in 90 days with possible funding alternatives that could be put to voters in November 2020. Supervisor Rowe tacked on an amendment killing the proposed three percent increase. At next Tuesday’s meeting, county supervisors will hear from administrators on alternatives for funding County Fire. And on another front, the Red Brennan Group is gathering signatures for a voter initiative to repeal the fee. The San Diego-based non-profit has led the way initiating several failed lawsuits to end the tax.
Supervisor Rowe and representatives from The Red Brennan Group will discuss the fire tax and efforts to repeal it at today’s 3 p.m. meeting of the Homestead Valley Community Council at the Bellfield Hall on Reche Road in Landers. The public is invited to attend.
