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 fire engine costing $943,000 that will be delivered in August 2026 and that the purchase contract requires financing to be in place by the end of 2025. "We estimate payments on this new fire engine will be around $12,000 per month," Autry said.

Autry cited growing demand for services as a driver of the request. He said fire calls rose from 95 in 2013 to 231 in 2024 — a 143% increase — and that total call volume has increased about 56% over the same period. He also said vehicle maintenance costs nearly tripled year-over-year, from about $12,000 to $35,000, and that the department responded to 105 calls in March alone.

Autry described other community services the department provides from the new station: firefighter outreach with local elementary schools, a planned youth firefighter day camp, countywide emergency-services training, and offering station space to Burke County Sheriff's deputies. He said the department is exploring 24/7 coverage, which would be expensive and "quadruple" the need for duty-officer coverage.

Commissioners asked about alternatives and procurement. One commissioner asked whether a used or "certified pre-owned" engine was possible; Autry replied the department had already signed the contract and cited standards that primary response engines should not exceed 30 years of age. Autry said the ordered engine will replace one that is 30 years old and that the department will keep the older unit as a reserve.

Commissioners also discussed regional purchasing and cooperative purchases of apparatus, with Autry noting other departments sometimes buy identical trucks together to obtain discounts but that joint purchasing also spreads payment obligations. The county manager and county attorney were asked to review coordination or legal issues that might affect joint procurements.

Board action and next steps

Commissioners did not vote on the tax increase at the April 7 meeting. After discussion, the board voted to move the item to the decision docket at the regular meeting two weeks later and to provide the county manager with guidance in preparation for the budget. Vice Chair made the motion to place the item on the decision agenda; the board approved the motion 5-0.

Why this matters

The requested increase would raise Salem's tax rate closer to the county average while funding immediate debt service and equipment replacement needs. Commissioners asked for additional time to review the department's financials and for staff to supply more detailed specifications for the ordered engine and any financing terms before a final vote.

What remains unresolved

No final action was taken on the rate change at this meeting. Commissioners directed staff to prepare the item for decision at the next meeting in two weeks and asked for further financial detail and community outreach information in advance of that vote.