County staff outlines plan for Mangum Fire Protection Service District and potential tax impact

Mark Lockhart, director of the Office of Emergency Services, briefed the board on a proposal to create the Mangum Fire Protection Service District to fund sustained fire protection in a remote northeast corner of Durham County. Lockhart said the district would be 3.55 square miles, include 268 taxable parcels with a total appraised value of $64,119,329 and an estimated year-round population of about 500.

Lockhart presented cost estimates and statutory context: "This proposed new district is being created under North Carolina general statute 153302," he said, and described the district as an equitable solution because the volunteer responder (Mariah Volunteer Fire and Rescue) has been providing service without county tax revenue and can no longer sustain that model. Staff estimated the typical property owner impact using an example assessed value of $239,000 and an upper tax rate of 0.0919, producing a projected annual increase of about $219.64 or roughly $18.30 monthly.

Lockhart said public notices and an informational mailing were completed and that a statutorily required public hearing will be held during the regular Board of County Commissioners meeting on March 9; if approved the district would take effect at the start of the next fiscal year. Commissioners asked how service has functioned historically and whether Mariah receives revenue from neighboring counties; staff said Mariah had served the area for decades and received Person County funds for calls originating in Person County but not in Durham County. Staff will work with involved agencies to recommend a tax rate as part of the annual budget process.