Clinton council backs request to ask county to raise rural fire tax from 8¢ to 10¢

The Clinton City Council voted unanimously to send a resolution and the fire department's proposed budget to the county, requesting that the Sampson County Board of Commissioners approve an increase in the rural fire tax rate from 8 cents to 10 cents per $100 of assessed value.

At a public hearing required by the county's process for fire tax districts, the city’s fire chief told council, "we would be raising the fire tax rate from 8¢ on the hundred to 10¢ on the hundred just the rural district. And that money would be used for maintenance equipment, turnout gear, things like that for our personnel." Counsel and staff explained that the Clinton Fire Tax District was created by the county board of commissioners and that only the county can change the tax rate; the city’s role at this meeting was to hold the required local public hearing and forward the request and proposed budget to the fire commission and county commissioners for their decisions.

Staff estimated the proposed rate increase would raise roughly $200,000 for the department, and told council that allocation of those funds would be determined later during the city's normal budget process. Councilman Strickland moved to adopt the resolution forwarding the rate request and proposed budget; the motion was seconded by Mr. DeBose and passed unanimously.

Council members asked staff and counsel to ensure the city met all county deadlines and procedural requirements before sending the request. The city will forward the hearing record, the proposed budget and the rate request to the county’s fire commission and to the Sampson County commissioners for final action.