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Roberts Tries To Wrap Up Parcel Tax?

The Fire Protection Committee headed up by Supervisor Ron Roberts and Mayor Jerry Sanders meets today. It is their last chance to decide on the details of a new parcel tax on all San Diego property ow

The Fire Protection Committee headed up by Supervisor Ron Roberts and Mayor Jerry Sanders meets today. It is their last chance to decide on the details of a new parcel tax on all San Diego property owners, to pay for more fire protection. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

A new tax is never easy for San Diego politicians to support. But County Supervisor Ron Roberts wants to strike while the iron is hot - and the memory of the October wildfires are still fresh in voters minds. He’s pushing to get a $52 a year parcel tax on the November ballot .

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Roberts : It would be criminal for us not to anything to make this county safer. We gotta do something .

Mayor Sanders says a dollar a week is not too much to ask.

But other mayors on the committee are skeptical that residents will support something that taxes everyone the same,  however big or small  their property.

The plan is to divide the $50 million a year proceeds between local cities and a new Joint Powers Fire Protection Authority.

But fire chiefs say they won't support the plan unless that have a say on how the money is spent.

Today is the last day to reach consensus, before asking the Board of Supervisors to place the tax on the ballot. It would need a two thirds "yes" vote to pass. 

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Alison St John,  KPBS news,