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Sampson County adopts amended fire protection contracts setting default multi‑year rates and response standards
Summary
The board approved amendments that set default multi‑year fire tax rates and require departments to meet response benchmarks; Taylors Bridge and Vans Crossroads signed the first contracts at the meeting.
Sampson County commissioners approved an amendment to the county's fire protection and rescue services contract framework that sets default multi‑year fire tax rates and establishes minimum response and reporting requirements for volunteer fire departments.
County staff explained the amendment would allow the county to set a default, multi‑year rate for each fire district based on the existing fire tax and supplemental property tax amounts. In return, a department that accepts the multi‑year default rate must meet service standards tracked by the county's 9‑1‑1 dispatch and make financial records available for review. The amendment includes a requirement that departments respond to at least 95% of emergency fire and rescue calls listed in the contract exhibits, with specific response expectations depending on call type (for example, a Class A engine for a structure fire or vehicle accident where specified).
Attorney and emergency services staff said the default rate is the minimum a department would receive if it signs the amended contract; departments may still apply to the fire commission for a higher rate, in which case they must submit a full budget for review and a public hearing will be held. The board emphasized it retains sole authority to set tax rates.
The board approved amendments and separately approved the individual contracts for Taylors Bridge Fire Department (multi‑year default rate of 9.5 cents) and Vans Crossroads (10 cents). Both departments had earlier approved the amendment at their local level and had signed the contracts presented to the board.
County staff said the amendment is intended to provide budgetary certainty for departments and the county and to ensure transparent use of tax funds. The change applies to fire tax disbursements and does not transfer taxing authority from the board to another body. Commissioners and the county manager encouraged fire commission participation and said departments seeking rates above the default would present budgets to the fire commission for recommendation to the board.
No department budgets were rejected or increased at the meeting; the board's action set the default framework and accepted two departments' contracts under that framework.
