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Halifax County approves extension of Scotland Neck fire district after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing that included testimony from Scotland Neck fire officials, Halifax County commissioners voted to extend the Scotland Neck Fire Service District, a move county staff said will lower ISO ratings and allow the county to levy the district's tax for new substation coverage.
Halifax County commissioners voted to approve a resolution extending the Scotland Neck Fire Service District after a public hearing and staff presentation.
Deputy County Manager Christina Veil told the board staff had completed the statutory steps required under what she cited as general statute 153A-303: preparing a report, mailing notice to property owners within the proposed extension area (certified mailing dated 04/16/2026) and publishing notice in the Daily Herald (05/02/2026). Veil said the extension is contiguous to the existing district and that call-volume and response analyses supported the addition. She also said a substation already built in the area would improve response times and mutual aid with neighboring communities.
Assistant Chief Adam Green of the Scotland Neck Volunteer Fire Department described the practical effect of the substation, saying the area's Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating "will be reduced to the current, existing Scotland Neck Fire District rating of 5," a change Veil said should lower property-insurance costs for affected homeowners. New Scotland Neck Fire Chief David Boyette said the town and county had paid up front for costs tied to the truck and station; Boyette said the department may pursue nonprofit status in the future but currently lacks funds for that step.
After the public testimony the board closed the hearing and voted to adopt the resolution. The chair noted five commissioners were present for the voice vote. Commissioners were told that, following adoption, the county would be authorized to levy the same property tax that applies in the existing Scotland Neck Fire District for the newly annexed area and forward that revenue to the town under an obligation to provide rural fire protection services.
The resolution passed with a motion and second on the record; the board did not record a roll-call tally beyond the unanimous voice vote. County staff said the extension will be implemented this tax year and will preserve existing contractual arrangements between the county and the town of Scotland Neck for providing fire protection to the expanded area.
The Scotland Neck extension drew public support from volunteer fire department leaders and town representatives, and prompted questions from commissioners about nonprofit status, volunteer recruitment and how revenue would be used by the town and fire department. The town and department remain responsible for decisions about how to spend the levied revenue.
The board took no additional substantive action at the meeting on the substation's operations beyond passing the resolution; citizens were encouraged to contact county staff for specific questions about tax impact or service boundaries.
