SACRAMENTO - Assembly Bill 1506, co-authored by Assemblywoman Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), was introduced today to repeal the fire tax that went into effect earlier this year.  The tax, which Governor Brown expects will raise $84 million dollars, unduly burdens rural communities in Cal-Fire designated "State Responsibility Areas" and those who rely on state crews for fire protection.  AB 1506 is co-authored by twenty-seven other Republicans in both the Assembly and Senate houses.

"The fire tax is just one more example of democrats in the legislature imposing  burdensome regulations on California taxpayers," said Assemblywoman Grove.  "Residents in places like Tehachapi, Frazier Park, Taft, and the Kern River Valley already pay their fair share for fire protection."

The fire tax will likely impact more than 40,000 properties in Kern County, according to the Sacramento Bee.  Without Assembly Bill 1506, property owners will likely be billed $300 for fire service in the coming months - $150 for the 2011-2012 fiscal year and $150 for the 2012-2013 fiscal year - for the same fire service they are currently receiving. 

"This tax is representative of the mindset of the career politicians in Sacramento who think it's acceptable to charge hardworking Californians more for providing them fewer services," said Grove. "It's time to repeal it."

Assembly Bill 1506 has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources.