George Runner

[George Runner] – More than 1,000 Californians have registered to participate in a 6 p.m. telephone townhall tonight regarding the confusing and controversial California Fire Prevention Fee. This promises to be the largest in a series of regional townhalls Runner is holding for taxpayers throughout his district.

“Many individuals share my concern about the fairness and cost of this tax,” said Runner. “The state is currently mailing bills to nearly 800,000 rural Californians demanding they pay a so-called fire “fee,” but not one dime of it can be used to fight the fires currently burning across our state. As their elected taxpayer advocate, I want to hear their concerns and answer their questions.”

During the call, Runner and other participating elected officials will discuss the latest fire “fee” news, including the pending lawsuit, and answer questions from callers.

Taxpayers in Fresno, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera and Tulare counties are invited to join the call, but others are welcome as well.

Sen. Steve Knight

Tonight’s telephone townhall is co-sponsored by State Senators Tom Berryhill, Anthony Cannella and Steve Knight, and Assemblymembers Connie Conway, Shannon Grove, Jim Patterson and Scott Wilk.

Members of the public who would like to participate should register by visiting boe.ca.gov/townhall or by calling (916) 445-3032. Taxpayers who pre-register will receive a telephone call at the start of the event inviting them to connect to the townhall.

Nearly 800,000 California property owners—about half of whom live in Runner’s Board of Equalization District—must pay the annual Fire Prevention Fee. The “fee” was enacted by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2011.

Elected in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. Runner keeps taxpayers informed of the latest fire tax news and information at calfirefee.com.