Avery County fire leaders present balanced budget; fund balance declines prompt caution

Scott Heath, chair of the Avery Fire Commission, told the Avery County Board of Commissioners on May 8 that the commission presented a balanced budget "with no request for a tax rate increase." He said the commission expects a year-end surplus but has used the fund balance for nonrecurring expenses and now plans to transition a third-year stipend program from one-time funding into the operational budget.

Heath said call non-responses have dropped to 27 percent since the stipend program began, but he added that departments administer stipends differently — some use a point system while others pay on-call stipends. He also said truck costs are rising; this fiscal year is a lapse year and no new engine purchase is planned. Vehicles recently were purchased using the fund balance.

The commission reported the fire fund balance has fallen from roughly $700,000–$800,000 to about $400,000, which Heath said is below the level the commission would like to maintain. That decline, coupled with rising vehicle costs and an intent to shift stipend funding into the operating budget, prompted the board to flag future pressures on the department’s regular budget.

Linville Fire Department separately asked the commissioners for $120,000 to construct a building to house donated equipment valued at more than $300,000, including a crew cab hook truck, a side-by-side and enclosed trailers; the request was proposed to be funded from the fire fund balance.

County staff member Brian Ledford said he is researching budgeting software to help departments track spending and improve fiscal transparency across fire services. Commissioners did not take immediate action on the Linville building request during the workshop.

The discussion provided the board with the commission’s near-term plan for stipend funding and a warning that one-time fund-balance solutions to capital and operating needs will not be sustainable if current trends continue.