The Board of Equalization has mailed 700,000 letters to rural Californians, notifying them to get ready to pay fire prevention bills between $110 and $150.

District I vice chairman George Runner says they’re trying to give people a heads-up, and also claims the state fees don’t actually go toward protecting anything.

“We want to make people aware of that,” he said. “We believe, as I said, that the law is unconstitutional.”

Runner is endorsing legislation to repeal the tax or extend its deadlines. He’s urging people to petition the state for refunds.

– Anthony Pollreisz