The challenge to California’s fire fee is moving forward.

Sacramento Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang last month granted the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers’ Association’s motion to notice a class of litigants who want to abolish the fee being assessed on people living in state responsibility areas. Those in Meyers are paying the annual CalFire fee.

Everyone in these areas where the fee is mandated will be part of the class-action lawsuit unless they opt out by March 7.

The plaintiffs also want the fees paid to date to be refunded.

The state believes the fee is constitutional.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report