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Fire chiefs present FY26 budgets; county leaders flag recruitment and pay shortfalls
Summary
Multiple Beaufort County fire districts presented fiscal 2026 budgets that largely held millage steady while asking for targeted salary increases; chiefs and the committee discussed regional pay gaps, high turnover and a multi‑year plan to catch up wages.
Chiefs from Saint Helena, Bluffton Township, Burton, Shell Point and other rural fire districts presented their proposed FY26 budgets and described personnel, capital and equipment needs. Several districts proposed flat millage rates while highlighting requests for pay adjustments to retain firefighters.
Saint Helena Fire District Chief Steve Klein said his district proposed no millage increase and planned a flat $3,000 per‑employee adjustment that he said would raise starting firefighter pay from about $41,000 to roughly $44,000. "I strongly encourage you allow me to do that because we are willfully below the average regional starting salary," Klein said.
Other chiefs described steep turnover and competition for personnel from neighboring jurisdictions, municipal departments and military bases. Bluffton Township and Burn (Rountree) Fire Districts described recruits leaving for higher pay, and multiple chiefs said pay was the primary factor. Chief Rountree said retention has become "almost entirely pay issues" and described recent separations he traced to compensation gaps.
Committee members and chiefs urged a coordinated, county‑wide study of fire and EMS pay to identify a path toward more competitive regional compensation. Council member Calvin Dawson asked chiefs to meet and return with recommendations; the committee agreed to pursue a study of regional pay comparators and multiyear options. The committee asked county staff to bring back cost estimates and options for phased increases.
Capital requests across districts included replacement of bunker gear, down payments on new pumpers and planned station projects; most districts emphasized maintaining service levels while avoiding local tax increases. Several districts also urged broader use of residential sprinklers in new developments to reduce fire risk in remote areas.
