Jones County commissioners reject fire district, delay budget decision
TRENTON — The Jones County Board of Commissioners rejected a proposed Fire Protection Service District on Monday after residents and commissioners raised concerns about how the tax would be structured, how the money would be distributed and whether the public had enough information before a decision.
The board also tabled the county’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget ordinance, fee schedule and five-year capital improvement plan, setting a special budget meeting for Monday at 6 p.m. to continue work on the spending plan.
The proposed fire district was one of the central issues during the June 1 regular meeting at the Jones County Agricultural Building. The agenda included public hearings on both the creation of the Fire Protection Service District and the county’s fiscal year 2026-27 budget ordinance.
Residents who spoke during the meeting said they were not opposed to supporting fire departments, but objected to the proposed structure of the tax.
Teresa Holsopple, who spoke during the public comment period and again during the fire district public hearing, said she supported finding money for fire departments but opposed a structure that she said would apply beyond real property.
“I don’t have a problem per se about a fire tax for my house in Jones County,” Holsopple said. “What I do have a problem with is how this is being structured.”
Holsopple said she was concerned the tax would apply to vehicles, including a motorhome she said does not stay in Jones County. She also said the proposal would not address emergency medical services.
“This tax is not going to help out our EMS at all,” Holsopple said. “This doesn’t help our ambulances. This just helps our fire. We need to come up with something to help both, because both are just as important.”
Phyllis Brimage also spoke about the proposed fire tax and questioned whether the funding would be used for new employees. Brimage said she had attended an earlier meeting where daytime fire coverage and additional personnel were discussed.
County Manager Kyle Smith said the fire study presented to commissioners earlier in the year recommended the county consider hiring paid fire personnel for daytime coverage because many volunteers work outside their communities or districts during the day. Smith said those positions were not included in his recommended fiscal year 2027 budget.
“The fire study showed that we should actually be looking at hiring four paid personnel related to fire protection services specifically for daytime hours,” Smith said. “I was not able to include that in my recommended budget because that would be an additional expense to the taxpayer.”
During the public hearing, one speaker from Maysville supported the proposal, saying the county had taken an intentional approach after fire chiefs asked for a study. He said the tax was a way to make fire service funding sustainable and said he believed the process had been open and transparent.
Other comments focused on whether the public understood the difference between the proposed service district tax and the existing fire tax structure. Some speakers and commissioners said the county already has a fire tax mechanism in place, while the proposed service district would have created a different type of tax.
Commissioner James Harper said he believed the county had not done enough to bring residents into the discussion before the vote. Harper said he did not doubt the need for additional resources for fire departments, but said the public should have been given a clearer explanation of the proposal before commissioners were asked to act.
“The fire tax, I think, commissioners, we missed an opportunity,” Harper said. “Where the commissioners have fallen short, in my opinion, we did not bring the public along with us.”
Harper said a short presentation explaining what the tax is, how it would be used, how money would be distributed and who would oversee the process could have addressed many of the questions raised by residents.
“I did not hear once, not once, during that public hearing, ‘I don’t want to pay fire tax for the fire department,’” Harper said. “What I did hear was, ‘I don’t understand why, how, when, where.’”
Harper also raised concerns about the committee structure that would oversee or advise on funding decisions, saying he did not know who would serve on the committee, how many members it would have or how the funding plan would be managed.
After discussion, the board voted to reject the Fire Protection Service District resolution. The agenda had listed the resolution as a new business item following the public hearings.
Following that vote, commissioners tabled the budget ordinance and fee schedule. They also tabled the five-year capital improvement plan, with Smith noting that the capital plan is generally considered alongside the budget ordinance.
Smith said commissioners needed to decide whether fire funding would be placed back into the general fund allocation for fire departments or whether departments would be given authority to adjust existing fire tax rates within their respective districts.
Commissioners also discussed Phillips Crossroads, which officials said does not have a fire tax because voters in that district did not approve one under the existing district fire tax mechanism. Commissioners said the county would need to consider how to address funding for that area as budget discussions continue.
Smith said the county would need to republish a public hearing notice for the revised budget. Commissioners then voted to set a special budget work session for Monday at 6 p.m.
Chairman Frank Emory told residents the purpose of the public hearing was to receive input before making a decision.
“I don’t know of anybody up here that made their mind up either way one way or the other,” Emory said. “For those of you that came and those that came tonight to the last public hearing, we appreciate you coming and giving your input.”
Emory said commissioners were trying to make decisions based on the information presented to them and were not trying to mislead the public.
The board approved several other items during the meeting.
Commissioners approved a proposal from the Timmons Group to provide grant funding, writing and application support services for potential state and federal funding opportunities. Economic Developer and Planner John Bender said the funding effort would focus on sewer infrastructure for the proposed joint industrial site.
The board also approved a resolution requesting that the N.C. Department of Transportation name a portion of U.S. 258 near the Hargetts Crossroads area after former Sen. Cecil Hargett.
Commissioners approved a capital request for the Jones County Sheriff’s Office to purchase a patrol vehicle, not to exceed $50,000 for the base vehicle and $10,000 for required upfitting. Smith said the purchase would come from the sheriff’s office capital vehicles line.
During discussion, officials said the county has had trouble getting vehicles through its lease program and that one vehicle had taken about a year to arrive. Sheriff’s office representatives said using similar vehicle models can help reduce equipment costs when cameras and other equipment can be transferred, and said four-wheel drive is useful in Jones County because of rural roads, flooding, fields and wildlife.
The board also approved an $18,735 design fee amendment for mechanical, electrical and plumbing redesign work on the county’s planned public works facility. Smith said the county is preparing to rebid the project after earlier construction pricing came in higher than expected.
Commissioners approved $150,000 for Hanbury to begin conceptual design work for the Jones County Recreation and Wellness Center and accessible park. Smith said the county is seeking to move the project closer to shovel-ready status for potential grant funding. He said the county has gathered input from schools, students and online surveys, with concepts including a nature walk, outdoor basketball courts, outdoor pickleball and possible splash pad features, though he noted water features require significant maintenance.
The board also approved an option to purchase 201 acres for commercial and industrial development. Smith said the option price is $21,000, with a purchase price of $3,815 per acre if the county exercises the option. The agreement is for five years, with a $5,000 one-year renewal fee if the county chooses to extend it after year five.
Earlier in the meeting, commissioners heard updates from Jones County Cooperative Extension, including information on the Jones County Heritage Festival, 4-H programming and poultry education work.
Emoni Burgess, administrative professional for Jones County Extension, said the Heritage Festival is scheduled for Sept. 25 and 26 at the Jones County Civic Center and Brock Mill Pond. She said the festival is expected to include a farmers market, parade, vendors, heritage games, a hayride, animal displays, local art, kayaking and a free movie night.
Samantha Bennett, Jones County 4-H agent, said the county has five active 4-H clubs, including clubs focused on cooking, shooting sports, horses and farm activities. She said 4-H has nine summer camps scheduled, 13 youth registered for district presentations and eight youth attending residential summer camp at Millstone 4-H Camp.
Margaret Ross, Eastern Area Specialized Poultry Agent for NC State Extension, said her work covers commercial poultry, backyard poultry and youth poultry programs across eastern North Carolina. Ross said she wrote 10 litter management plans in 2025, saving poultry growers at least $30,000 compared with the cost of private consulting.
Jennifer King, deputy director of administrations, said the Maysville senior site will move from the Pollocksville Fire Department to a new space at Maysville Town Hall effective July 1. King said a grand reopening event is planned.
King also announced a senior fraud prevention event, called Scam Jam, scheduled for June 10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the senior center in Trenton. She said Sheriff Wine, a credit union representative and a state SHIP program coordinator are expected to participate.
During manager’s comments, Smith said the next regular work session is scheduled for June 15 and the next regular meeting is scheduled for July 6. He also said the Brock Mill Pond Enhancement Project is out for bid. The project includes permanent restrooms and concession facilities and is estimated at $800,000, with about $770,000 grant funded and a county match of about $30,000.
Smith said the next county-hosted joint leadership meeting is scheduled for July 28 at 6 p.m. at the Jones County Civic Center.
