County looks at Waylin Fire District tax hike
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 4, 2018 3:05 AM
Wayne County commissioners will be asked on Tuesday to increase the Waylin Fire District tax by 2.5 cents.
The Waylin Fire District serves the rural area around Mount Olive.
The increase would raise the rate to 7 cents per $100 worth of property value.
The meeting will get underway with an 8 a.m. agenda briefing followed by the formal session at 9 a.m. Both will be held in the commissioners' meeting room on the fourth floor of the Wayne County Courthouse Annex.
Mount Olive Fire Chief Greg Wiggins is expected to make the case for the increase.
In a letter to commissioners, Wiggins cites increases in cost for equipment and the addition of paid firefighters.
"In May 2010, the citizens of Duplin County voted and passed a quarter of a cent sales tax earmarked for fire protection," he wrote in the letter. "In 2015, the town of Mount Olive raised its tax rate 5 cents. Both increases have helped.
"The Waylin Fire Tax, on the other hand, has remained 4.5 cents since 1989. Even with tax reevaluations, the cost of doing business has far exceeded our income."
Wiggins wrote that in his 40-year career he has seen many changes in the fire service, all for the sake of firefighter and civilian safety, but at a hefty cost.
As more and more training has been required, it has put a strain on the volunteers' time, he said.
"As cost of equipment and business operations increase, it has also put a strain on our department's budget," Wiggins said. "In 1979, I paid for my own gear; helmet, coat, pants and boots -- $175.
"Today, the same gear is over $3,000, and we now have no-mex hoods and special gloves which were not required 30 years ago. All of this gear has a 10-year shelf life, is NFPA standard, and is more cost for the department."
Also, in 1986, a fire engine cost $126,000, in 1996 the cost had increased to $226,000, and in 2002 had risen $326,000, he said in the letter.
The budget has not kept up with the increases, he said.
In other business Tuesday, commissioners will consider motions to approve:
* Donation of 2010 Dodge Charger from the Wayne County Sheriff's Office to Wayne Community College.
* Sale of surplus property at 807 Nile St. in Goldsboro, jointly owned with Goldsboro, as requested by the city.
* Supporting the "Fill the Theatre Campaign," a food donation campaign for local nonprofits.
* Meeting with the Wayne County Chamber's Junior Leadership for Government and Law Day at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 10.
* Upgrade/detailing of the seal of Wayne County.
Also, the county's new Catch a Glimpse video will be shown.
Consent agenda items include: applications for Present Use Value; budget amendments; motion to adopt a resolution for a wastewater merger/ regionalization feasibility grant; motion to adopt a resolution for the use of pyrotechnics by Shearea Robinson for the town of Pikeville on April 14 and June 30; motion to approve a request to add Leafwood Drive SR extension and Hillwinds Place to the state Department of Transportation state maintenance system.