Taxpayer group challenges legality of rural Cal Fire fee

A controversial new fee for fire prevention services in rural areas is being challenged in a lawsuit filed last week by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, a conservative activist organization. The fee, which benefits the state agency Cal Fire, is widely opposed by politicians, fire departments and others in Marin and throughout the state.

“The fee has a disproportionate impact on rural communities and, frankly, a disproportionate impact on Northern California,” Assemblyman Jared Huffman of…