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Gov. Brown Seeks To Raise State Firefighting Fee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California's annual fire-protection fee on rural property owners would rise from a maximum of $150 to a minimum of $175 under legislation proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown, who is seeking to fix a law he signed less than two months ago.

He also wants to ensure the revenue can be used by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The Associated Press reported last month that the law could end up draining money from the state's firefighting budget unless wording was changed.

The state fire board voted last month to charge no more than $90, which would reduce the revenue the state had been expecting.

The bill released Friday by the Department of Finance, AB1x24, would require a fee of "at least" $175 on structures within the state's responsibility area.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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