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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 million and takes roughly 3–4 years for delivery.
- French Broad: Chief Shelton reduced his district’s request from 1¢ to 0.5¢ following discussions with county finance staff; the smaller increase was projected to raise about $21,247 and would fund station remodeling without affecting current staffing levels.
- Swannanoa: Leadership requested a 1¢ increase estimated to generate $132,715. Chief Penland (Swannanoa) said the district’s ad valorem base dropped about 3.7% after the storm, sales tax distributions fell, and the department expects to use about $200,000 of its fund balance this year. Penland noted long-term capital needs including a 23-year-old engine and a ladder truck approaching a 20-year service life; replacement estimates in the CIP are about $3.2 million for two major apparatus.
- Upper Hominy: Chief Shane Prestwood requested a 1.6¢ increase (projected to generate $95,917). He said the district’s tax base has not grown and that, without the increase, staff levels would need to be reduced (a part-time 24-hour post would be cut to 12 hours). He noted a $1.1 million apparatus ordered in FY24 with anticipated delivery in FY28.
- West Buncombe: Chief Fagnett requested a 1.5¢ increase (about $304,843). He said the district has operated at a deficit for several years and has eliminated part-time positions after the post-storm budget pressures; the requested increase would primarily cover personnel and operating costs.
- Reynolds (Chief Carter and board member Jay Lee): Requested a 1.87¢ increase to generate about $190,221, which the presenters said would maintain personnel and cover building renovations (kitchen, sleeping areas) and projected truck delivery timelines.
Discussion and context
Chiefs repeatedly cited recruitment and retention difficulties, rising insurance premiums and retrospective use of fund balances to maintain service levels after storm-related revenue losses. Several chiefs highlighted shared regional needs — wildland and structural response, mutual-aid obligations, and aging fleets — and said replacement timelines for engines and rescue vehicles are multi-year and increasingly costly.
No formal votes occurred on the requests during the work session; county staff said the fire-district tax rates are addressed through the county’s annual budget and will be reflected separately in the recommended budget ordinance if commissioners choose to include them.
Quotes
"Our call volume in 2024 was 3,782. ... we're continually seeing additional needs in our district," Chief Bedingfield said, describing growth and the need for additional personnel and benefits.
"This reduction doesn't impact staffing and salaries," Chief Shelton said after reducing French Broad’s requested increase.
Ending
County finance staff said requested tax-rate changes for fire districts will be included, if approved later, with the annual budget ordinance. Commissioners posed questions about anticipated fund-balance use, capital timelines and the county-sponsored firefighter compensation study scheduled to be completed this summer.
