State Says Timber Firms Should Pay More
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The State Legislative Analyst´s Office says timber companies should have to pay more for state services as the state tries to trim its multi-billion-dollar budget deficit.
Its report says logging companies should pay what it actually costs the state to review their timber cutting plans, saving more than $21 million a year.
However, the Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention says timber owners already pay higher logging costs than in other states because of California´s stricter regulations.
The California Forestry Association says preparing the environmental and other documents needed for state approval already can cost owners from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
