Brunswick County to change fire tax code, fire chiefs chime in

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Brunswick County is considering changes to its fire tax code.  

As the funding system stands now, residents pay a fire fee based on the heated square footage of their property, plus its surrounding acreage. 

That money is distributed to 22 fire departments across the county—which may also receive funding from their respective towns or cities 

However, the county is looking to transition away from this system.  

The Brunswick County Fire Chiefs Association recently presented their recommendation for a new system to a gathering of local mayors.  

Association president and Southport Fire Chief Charles Drew says they unanimously recommended a tax rate based on individual fire districts.  

“The funding system that we have now is now is not adequately providing enough revenue coming in to provide the number of personnel we need and the equipment,” he said. “Since COVID, our call volumes have doubled, also prices have skyrocketed for anything to do with fire apparatus.”  

Although it’s still early in the process, not everyone agrees with the recommendation.  

Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Debbie Smith worries switching to a system based on property value, rather than square footage could put an increased burden on coastal communities.  

“The values in the beach communities are substantially higher than they are in a residential neighborhood on the mainland; and it’s mainly because of land value, you know, beach front land value,” Smith said. “So, I think, in my mind, that makes the beachfront communities pay an unfair proportion of the fire fees.”  

However, one benefit to towns like Ocean Isle—Chief Drew says—is that the rate would put less of a financial burden on municipalities.  

“22 fire departments in Brunswick County, 8 are municipal fire departments, and every one of those municipal fire departments are having to add funding on top of the fire fee that’s coming in that we’re receiving, so it’s causing a burden to municipalities,” Drew explained. 

According to the county’s schedule, staff were supposed to analyze properties in the county to find what that fire tax rate would need to be. 

That analysis was supposed to be completed by Friday. 

WWAY asked a county spokesperson if the analysis had been completed, but we have not yet heard back.