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Salem Fire and Rescue asks Burke County commissioners to raise tax rate to 0.100 to cover new engine and rising costs
Summary
Salem Fire and Rescue requested the Burke County Board of Commissioners consider raising its fire tax rate from 0.0716 to 0.100 to fund a new $943,000 engine, mortgage payments and increasing operating costs; the board voted to move the item to a decision at its regular meeting in two weeks and asked county staff for guidance.
Salem Fire and Rescue Chief Charles Autry told the Burke County Board of Commissioners on April 7 that the department is asking the county to raise its fire tax rate from 0.0716 to 0.100 to cover the purchase of a replacement engine and mounting operating costs.
The request matters because the department has a $943,000 contract for a new engine, must have financing in place by the end of 2025 and expects both mortgage and vehicle payments that will increase annual operating costs. "We're here today to request an increase in our tax rate from 0.0716 to 0.1," Chief Charles Autry said.
Autry told commissioners Salem had historically kept one of the county's lowest fire tax rates and previously went "revenue neutral" after a substantial reappraisal. The department saved roughly $1.5 million over about 10 years and moved into a new station, but building costs doubled during that period. Autry said $545,000 of the fund balance remains in a certificate of deposit; $351,000 of that is planned to pay off a final mortgage installment, and the department expects monthly mortgage payments of more than $16,000 thereafter. The department estimates payments on the new engine will be about $12,000 per month.
Autry also cited rising call volume and operating expenses: he said fire responses rose from 95 in 2013 to 231 in 2024 (a 143% increase) and overall call volume up 56%, which has increased fuel and vehicle maintenance costs. He said the new engine will replace a 30-year-old unit and is expected to be delivered in August 2026 after a roughly three-year build time.
Commissioners asked about alternatives, existing reserve engines and procurement practice. Autry said the contract is signed and that the department follows replacement standards that seek primary response engines no older than 30 years. He described existing apparatus (four engines across two stations) and said older units would be kept as reserves. Autry also described community outreach from the new station and interest in hosting ambulance or EMS resources to reduce response times at that end of the county.
After discussion, the board agreed to give staff time to review the request and direction to the county manager. The board then voted to move the tax-rate request to the regular meeting for a decision in two weeks and to provide the manager with input. The motion passed by voice vote, 5-0.
The board took no final tax-rate action at the pre-agenda meeting; commissioners asked for additional information for budget planning before any vote.
Clarifying details captured during the presentation include: the engine purchase price is $943,000; remaining CD funds $545,000; planned payoff to Federal Credit Union $351,000; estimated monthly mortgage payments over $16,000; estimated monthly payments for the new engine ~$12,000; Salem's requested tax-rate increase would raise department annual revenue roughly $170,000 (department-provided estimate); current tax rate listed at 0.0716 and county average cited by the department as ~0.106. Autry said the engine contract requires financing in place by the end of 2025 and delivery is expected August 2026.
The board directed the county manager to review the department's request and return with budget guidance; the tax-rate increase will be considered as a decision item at the board's next regular meeting.
