Posted on 06/29/2011 6:36:37 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO - Every Californian with a vehicle will pay $12 more a year to register it, and millions of property owners who live outside cities will pay $150 annually for state fire protection under two new fees imposed by lawmakers as part of the budget passed late Tuesday.
However, the moves could face legal challenges from opponents who argue the fees are taxes in disguise.
Democrats who control the Legislature approved the fees without Republican support. By law, the Legislature cannot pass new taxes without a two-thirds vote, which requires approval from at least some Republican lawmakers.
But Democrats believe the vehicle and firefighting fees fall into a legal loophole by paying for services, and as a result can be passed with a simple majority under Proposition 26, approved by voters in November.
The $12 vehicle fee will go to the Department of Motor Vehicles for its administrative costs and will free a projected $300 million that in turn will go to local governments that will take over responsibility for tens of thousands of lower-level criminals.
(Excerpt) Read more at pe.com ...
In the old days , they called it ‘Taxation without Representation’ and ended up fighting it tooth and nail
These days, for the Dems , It’s business as usual.. and the band plays on..
If they want to tax for fire protection, then they need to refund about $900 that was already payed when the house was built. Or pay for the 2500 gallon water tanks that were put in as an option. This is what happens in our county.
LOL!
When will people learn, fee's and taxes are the same only with a different name.
Kinda' like a Republican and a RINO, different names however neither necessarily conservative.
Proposition 26
Increases Legislative Vote Requirement to Two-Thirds for State Levies and Charges. Imposes Additional Requirement for Voters to Approve Local Levies and Charges With Limited Exceptions. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.
Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Estimate of Net State and Local Government Fiscal Impact
Yes/No Statement on Prop 26
A YES vote on this measure means: The definition of taxes would be broadened to include many payments currently considered to be fees or charges. As a result, more state and local proposals to increase revenues would require approval by two-thirds of each house of the Legislature or by local voters.
The liberal voters in Taxifornia asked for it — and they got it. More liberal government, more taxation, more spending.
“STUPID IS, AS STUPID DOES.” - Forrest Gump
I think this kind of stuff will become even more widespread across states.
It allows the legislature to (falsely) claim they aren’t raising “taxes”.
They try to get away with this because there are fewer people living in rural areas that can fight them.
It is for wildfire fighting, not residential protection. They don’t do that anymore. They don’t put fire trucks in your driveway when the wildfires come. They now fight the fireline wherever the front may go, regardless of structures. Structures and medical emergency will still be your local fire dept.
In our area, we will be paying for nothing in some areas. The state has given the responsibilities for wildfires to the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management.CalFire doesn’t respond.
The $12 vehicle fee will go to the Department of Motor Vehicles for its administrative costs and will free a projected $300 million that in turn will go to local governments that will take over responsibility for tens of thousands of lower-level criminals.is it me or did they just call the DMV criminals???
Taxes they are!
A fee is for a specific service, not a vague possibility of service.
>> “It is for wildfire fighting, not residential protection. They don’t do that anymore.” <<
.
Not true.
Most of Cal Fire’s calls are structure fires, by far.
Or even a promise of service that will never materialize.
Our fire protection comes from CDF and in our area, these guys are great. They respond faster than most city fire departments.
Aren’t most rural counties in CA conservative?
Ding ding ding we have a winner!
In our area, CalFire backs up the volunteer depts. through mutual aid. But their forces are gone in winter unless the County is paying for Amador Plan service. They also can be deployed anywhere during summer so may not be around to back up the depts.
There is a change in wildfire attack. I attended a training on it. It used to be whenever So. Ca had a wildfire, they would station fire trucks for zone coverage on residences. As of this year, this is no longer true. They will fight the wildfire rather than defend houses.
Very conservative. That’s one reason I think California should be split into two states. Southern and Northern.
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