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Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad asks council for phased rescue tax increase to replace aging truck
Summary
A Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad representative asked Roanoke Rapids council to phase the rescue tax from 1¢ toward 5¢ over five years (initial 2¢ proposed) to fund a replacement 21‑year‑old heavy rescue truck and to stabilize operations after 1,079 responses in 2025.
A representative of the Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad presented a request for a phased increase in the local rescue tax, asking the council to raise the rate from the current 1¢ up to 5¢ over five years, beginning with an immediate 2¢ increase. The presenter said the additional revenue would fund replacement of a 21‑year‑old heavy rescue truck and improve the squad’s operational stability.
The squad's representative described 1,079 calls for emergency services during calendar year 2025 and gave a breakdown: roughly 748 first‑responder calls, 206 motor‑vehicle accidents, eight vehicle extrications, and multiple mutual‑aid and backup incidents. The presenter said approximately 3.6% of calls were in Halifax County while 96.4% were within Roanoke Rapids city limits, and argued that the existing 1¢ tax “is no longer sufficient funding to support modern rescue operations.”
The speaker urged council to adopt a phased approach to minimize the immediate cost burden on residents while ensuring predictable funding for training, equipment replacement, fuel, insurance and other operating costs. Council took the presentation; no immediate vote or ordinance to change the tax was taken at this meeting.
Why it matters: The proposal, if approved in future budget or ballot actions, would directly affect property tax rates and emergency service funding; it could reduce reliance on uncertain grants and fundraising but would require formal council action, public notice and statutory compliance before implementation.
