Letter to the editor: Proposed fire tax cuts put public safety at risk
As a third-generation volunteer firefighter and a 19-year member of the fire service, I care deeply about protecting our community and ensuring that local fire departments are equipped to respond to emergencies and protect the citizens they serve. I currently serve as a captain and a member of the Board of Directors for North Lenoir Fire & Rescue, and I am deeply concerned about a proposed reduction in our county’s volunteer fire department tax rates that I believe puts public safety at risk.
This concern is not limited to North Lenoir. Departments across Lenoir County are facing the same proposed reductions, and while each community is different, the impact is shared: fewer resources, more strain on volunteers, and less ability to plan responsibly for the future.
At North Lenoir Fire & Rescue, we are not asking for a tax increase. We are simply asking to maintain our current rate of 5.75 cents per 100 dollars of assessed value. This rate has remained unchanged for nearly a decade. At the County’s request, we postponed any discussion of a rate adjustment until the 2025 property revaluation was complete. Now, despite a significant increase in our district’s assessed value and growing demands on our department, we are being asked to accept a cut instead.
We were formally notified of the proposed reduction on Friday, May 2nd. The full fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, including the fire tax rate reductions, was presented to the Board of Commissioners the following Monday, May 5th. This short window left no opportunity for our volunteer board to meet, review the proposal, and offer input. When decisions directly affect emergency services and the safety of our citizens, the process should include meaningful collaboration. As public servants who dedicate our time and energy to protecting this community, I believe departments like ours deserve timely notice and a seat at the table.
North Lenoir Fire & Rescue is a 100 percent volunteer department that serves the county’s largest fire district by both population and tax base. We take pride in being responsible stewards of public funds, operating efficiently, and maximizing every dollar to serve our community effectively. Still, this proposed cut would reduce our annual funding by more than $100,000. That loss would directly impact our ability to maintain essential equipment, invest in volunteer recruitment and retention, provide quality training, and sustain the level of service our community depends on.
This is not just a department issue. It is a community issue. For most homeowners in our district, the proposed tax cut would save less than $2.50 per month (that’s less than 9 cents per day). That is a small personal savings compared to the impact it would have on local fire protection.
While the County has outlined several major capital projects in this year’s budget, including facility improvements, fleet replacements, and new construction, it is equally important to ensure that the volunteer fire departments providing core public safety services remain fully funded and operationally strong.
Departments like North Lenoir operate without large reserve funds or access to capital improvement funding apart from our tax revenue. Every dollar we receive goes directly toward operations, training, facility maintenance, equipment, and emergency response. Without consistent and adequate funding, we risk falling behind at a time when our service demands continue to grow.
I encourage fellow citizens across Lenoir County to contact the Board of Commissioners and speak in support of preserving fire department funding. A special budget meeting will be held on Friday, May 9th at 9:00 a.m. at the Lenoir County Administration Building. Please consider attending and making your voice heard.
For more information about the proposed funding changes, how they affect our department and our citizens, and what you can do to help, please visit our website at https://nlvfd.com/protect-your-fire-service.
Fire protection is not a luxury. It is a core service that every resident depends on. We are committed to working with the County and our citizens to find a responsible solution. Your support makes that possible.
Sincerely,
Chris Decker
North Lenoir Fire & Rescue
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