Salem Fire & Rescue asks commissioners to raise fire tax rate to 0.1 to cover new engine, mortgage and rising calls

Salem Fire & Rescue Chief Charles Autry asked the Burke County Board of Commissioners on April 7 to increase his department's fire tax rate from 0.0716 to 0.1 to cover debt service, equipment purchases and rising operating costs.

"We're here today to request an increase in our tax rate from 0.0716 to 0.1," Chief Charles Autry said as he reviewed a packet of financial information for commissioners. He told the board Salem historically had one of the county's lowest fire tax rates and that the department's savings have been outpaced by construction and equipment costs.

The request follows recent capital work: the department moved into a new station this summer and has about $545,000 remaining in a certificate of deposit. Autry said the department plans to pay $351,000 to Civic Federal Credit Union as the mortgage finalizes in April and that mortgage payments will be "over $16,000 per month." He also said the department has ordered a new…