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Six Buncombe County fire districts ask commissioners for tax-rate hikes to preserve staffing and equipment
Summary
Six fire districts presented separate requests for tax-rate increases to Buncombe County commissioners, citing staffing shortages, rising operating costs and aging apparatus. Chiefs described recruitment/retention measures, equipment replacement timelines and fund-balance draws.
Six volunteer and mostly local fire districts appeared before Buncombe County commissioners during a budget work session to request increases in their ad valorem tax rates, describing personnel shortfalls, rising operating costs and aging apparatus.
Requests and reasons
- Anka Candler district: Chief Bedingfield said the district requested an increase from 12¢ to 13.5¢ per $100 of assessed value (a 1.5¢ increase) to generate an estimated $488,110. He described a staffing roster of 47 full-time positions (45 operational shift employees and two administrators) plus seven volunteers and said the district intends to add three operational personnel and one office assistant in FY25–26 to complete a three-year plan and place an additional engine into service. Bedingfield cited growing call volume (3,782 calls in 2024; a three-year average near 3,600), increased family health-insurance premiums and equipment replacement needs including SCBA components and turnout gear. He said a new fire engine costs about $1…
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