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Council approves purchase of ladder truck amid debate over fire tax and staffing
Summary
Oak Island council discussed shifting more fire costs onto a dedicated fire tax, debated whether a 1¢–2¢ increase would remove general-fund subsidies, and voted to move forward with purchase of a ladder truck to replace aging apparatus. Staffing requests remain a work in progress.
Oak Island — Facing aging apparatus and ongoing staffing shortfalls, the Town Council on April 28 approved moving forward with the purchase of a new ladder truck while continuing to weigh a dedicated fire-tax increase to reduce subsidies from the general fund.
Council members and staff debated whether a 1-cent or 2-cent increase to the town’s dedicated fire tax would eliminate a subsidy the general fund currently provides to the fire department. Staff advised that a 2-cent increase would “almost completely cover” the current subsidy and bring the fire department closer to self-sufficiency, while council members…
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