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Commissioners debate $7M proposal to staff rural volunteer fire departments; no appropriation approved
Summary
Commissioner Thompson asked staff to explore using nearly $7 million from fund balance as a one‑time bridge to provide four paid firefighters 24/7 to volunteer fire districts; commissioners split over fiscal prudence versus immediate safety risks and directed staff to develop timelines and alternatives rather than approve funding that night.
A request to use fund balance as a bridge to fund paid staffing for rural volunteer fire departments dominated discussion at the June 16 Brunswick County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Commissioner Thompson asked staff to evaluate department staffing and the cost to provide four paid firefighters on duty 24 hours a day for departments that do not currently meet that minimum. The proposal envisioned a one‑time transfer from the general fund—roughly $7,000,000 in the presentation—to cover staffing while the county develops a long‑term funding mechanism.
Thompson framed the request as a…
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