By Bob Berkowitz – July 19, 2017
I don’t get angry about much, but last year it hit the tipping point for me. After 5 years of being charged a fee, or tax or whatever you call it, most of Del Norter’s, living out of the metro area, were being gouged $117 each and every year for what I was calling an illegal tax. In addition to the fees we already pay for our own fire protection, the board of equalization sent this bill to us each and every year.
If you lived in the outlying areas of the county, I sent you a protest form so you had a method of getting this fee reversed.
Well, I’ve been at this for a year and now we have finally achieved success. This illegal fire tax/fee has finally been eliminated. That’s right, you will received no more bills from the State Board of Equalization.
This just didn’t happen by accident. It took a lot of arm twisting and letter writing by you and others like you to accomplish this almost impossible task. Both Senator McGuire and Assemblyman Wood helped us push this as part of the new cap and trade legislation.
Last year I wrote several articles and letters to many of you advocating getting rid of this tax/fee.
Here is what I wrote: “To date this has cost us over $500 on each parcel of property we own. Not only is it illegal, but it is unethical to impose this extra, illegal tax on us.
There is an old saying that you can’t fight city hall. Well, in this case, we can fight and win but only if we have a united Board of Supervisors who is willing to advocate on our behalf.
I was hoping that our 5 term supervisor would have led the fight to repeal this tax five years ago but he has chosen not to fight for the affected citizens, not only in the 5th district, but in Smith River, Fort Dick, and Gasquet who are paying this illegal tax. Unfortunately the board, by its inaction, has left it to others to “advocate on your behalf.”
I want to thank all of you who helped in this fight. After 6 years of fighting the good fight, we have finally won. This is what happens when we all get involved in writing an obvious wrong.
Win some lose many…..Fluoride was the BIGGEE but this one is a close 2nd..
there are many more battles to be fought and it is my dearest hope that you and Roger will gain another like minded supervisor. Thank you for serving. I’m glad that you got the upper hand with the pneumo !
Dale Bohling
Thank you Bod Berkowitz. At least that double tax has stopped. Who would you say gave you the most help, the least? Am sure the state has already spent our money so can kiss it goodbye. Ronald Thompson Crescent City
A big thanks Bob Berkowitz. Job well done. Would like our money back, but sure the State has already spent it.
I’ll believe it when I get my money back.
WTF, thanks for the inquiry on my health. This is not the way I had intended to lose 14 lbs. I don’t wish pneumonia on anyone. That said, I’m back to about 95% as of today.
Bob, that is outstanding news. Thanks so much for fighting the good fight on behalf of Del Norters. I hope you are feeling better after your bout of pnuemonia…………
Sam, unfortunately, we do not get our money back, but the good news is that we won’t be continuing to pay this tax.
Good job! One task done, more to go.
Bob, are you aware of the fiasco that is the Pacific Shores subdivision? For decades, the property owners were forced to pay water feeds every year but never had a single drop of water delivered to them. Failure to pay the water fees meant the bill would appear on the property taxes. It was a form of robbery.
Here’s the article from the Triplicate discussing this.
http://www.triplicate.com/csp/mediapool/sites/Triplicate/News/story.csp?cid=4362733&sid=923&fid=151
We are the people.
We may not forgive.
Some of us will never forget.
Bob, do we get our money back?