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Wake County presents plan to fold Wendell Fire Department into town government; board authorizes manager to pursue talks
Summary
Wake County officials briefed the Wendell Board of Commissioners on a proposed merger that would bring the not‑for‑profit Wendell Fire Department under town control, outlining a data‑driven cost‑share model, estimated town share of roughly 55% of a ~$6 million budget, employee benefit changes, and a recommended consultant and timeline; the board gave informal authorization to the town manager to pursue negotiations.
Wake County fire officials on Monday laid out a plan that could move Wendell’s not‑for‑profit fire department into town government, giving the Town of Wendell direct control over fire operations, staffing and taxation.
Daryl Alford, director of Wake County Fire and Emergency Management, told the Wendell Town Board the county created a single fire tax district in 1998 to address inequities in local fire funding. Using calendar‑year 2024 data, Alford said the Wendell Fire Department handled 2,878 calls countywide, 1,233 of which were inside Wendell, and that the department’s full, all‑in annual cost including debt is “a little over $6,000,000.” Under the county’s current cost‑share model, Alford said, the town’s share of that total would be nearly 55 percent under last year’s numbers.
The presentation reviewed the elements used to…
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