Post-fire tax relief

Butte County could receive assistance from the state to cover property tax revenue losses due to the Camp Fire.

Assembly Bill 72, amending the Budget Act of 2018, was unanimously approved by the Senate on Monday (Feb. 11). If signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, $31.3 million would backfill 2018-19 fiscal year wildfire-caused losses for Butte, Lake, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Shasta and Siskiyou counties. It would include estimated losses through 2021 for Butte and Lake counties, “due to the magnitude of the associated property damage.”

The bill also would dedicate $50 million to an emergency preparedness campaign.

“California is united in support of our communities devastated by wildfires and other natural disasters,” said Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego, pictured) in a press release.