Bulloch County ends two fire tax districts; board creates single county fire district effective July 1

Bulloch County commissioners voted unanimously May 20 to terminate two existing special fire tax districts and create a single county fire tax district covering unincorporated areas and certain municipalities, effective July 1.

County Attorney Jeff Akins told the board the change is driven by an expiring intergovernmental agreement with the City of Statesboro: the Statesboro fire protection agreement terminates June 30, and the city has not renewed or extended it. "Consequently, there will no longer be a need for the Statesboro Fire Tax District," Akins said, and the presented resolution would terminate that special district as of July 1.

Staff explained commissioners will still set the millage rate later, during the August tax-setting process. In the tentative budget staff left the new district at 3.0 mills; the county manager advised a drop to the former 2.7 mills for the five‑mile district would strain the ability to pay recently hired personnel needed to serve the larger area. Commissioners emphasized that terminating the special districts and creating a single district are procedural steps; the board must still set an actual millage rate.

Commissioners said the consolidated district will include the unincorporated county outside the City of Statesboro and the areas within the municipalities of Brooklet, Portal and Register where the county provides fire service. The board approved three separate resolutions in sequence: to terminate the Statesboro five‑mile fire tax district, to terminate the rural fire tax district, and to establish the new Bulloch County Fire Tax District.

The resolutions passed unanimously. The board will determine the millage for the new district when it adopts the county millage rates in August.