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Gov. Jerry Brown today signed into law a $150 annual wildfire protection fee for property owners in rural areas of California. The Democratic governor announced that he signed the bill, ABX1-29, to ensure rural property owners pay their share of the state's wildland firefighting costs, citing it is essentially a fee for service. Brown's finance spokesman, said the fee is appropriate because the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection provides an added benefit to rural property owners by attacking wildfires before they reach residential areas. "A fee consistent with the 'beneficiary pays principle,' such as the one intended in this bill, can achieve significant general fund savings," Gov. Brown said.