Commissioners approve consolidation of four Downeast fire districts, set uniform 7¢ rate and 10¢ max

The Board of Commissioners held a public hearing May 19 and approved consolidating four Downeast-area fire tax districts — Atlantic, Sea Level, Davis and Stacy — into a single Downeast Fire Tax District.

Emergency-services staff and the fire/EMS commission presented the consolidation as an administrative simplification to make budgeting and levy collection easier for county finance and to provide the fire chief with a single budget figure. Mark Shouse, chairman of the fire and EMS commission, reviewed recommended revenue-neutral rates and asked the board to consider modest increases to address station and staffing needs. He outlined district revenue-neutral rates and specific needs for equipment and facilities in several districts.

During the public hearing, local resident Raymond Nelson supported additional funding for rescue staffing. Commissioners then made several related motions: they voted to zero out the Atlantic, Sea Level, Davis and Stacy district tax rates (administratively removing old district levies), set a uniform 7¢ tax rate for the consolidated Downeast district, and approved a maximum tax rate not to exceed 10¢ so the districts may request higher levies later if needed. Vice Chairman Mansfield moved the consolidation; Commissioner Clark seconded; commissioners voted "all in favor" on the motions reported in the record.

Officials said the uniform levy is intended to generate modest additional revenue across the combined district (county staff estimated an approximate $545,000 increase collectively if some recommended increases are adopted) and to allow the districts to address staffing, equipment and facility shortfalls. Commissioners and staff emphasized that volunteer and district boards manage internal department spending, while the county appropriates funds requested by those entities.