08/11/2026
🚒 Understanding Your 2026 Tax Bill: Why Our Fire Department Needed This Funding Adjustment 🚒
As property tax bills arrive across Brunswick County, we want to be 100% transparent with our residents regarding fire fee rates, how those decisions are governed, and why this additional funding is vital to maintaining our emergency services.
How Fire Fees Work in Brunswick County
Brunswick County is unique—it is the only county in North Carolina that actively uses a fire fee system rather than a traditional property fire tax. Fire fees are not based on your property’s tax valuation; instead, they are calculated based on heated square footage for buildings or acreage for vacant land.
The maximum allowable fire fee a department can charge is capped by state legislation (Session Law 2017-60).
The Timeline & How We Got Here
1. Our Initial Request: During the normal 2026–2027 budget process, our department requested that our fire fees be set to the maximum allowable limit under the existing fire fee law to maintain our current level of service and keep up with essential operational needs.
2. Countywide Leadership Steps In: Recognizing that the existing statutory caps were no longer sufficient for departments across the region, fire service leadership throughout Brunswick County collectively requested an amendment to the state fire fee law.
3. The Committee's Review & 15% Request: As part of this process, the Fire Fee Committee met to evaluate and approve the legislative request. During this meeting, the committee determined that an additional 15% increase beyond the previous cap was necessary to support long-term operational sustainability, maintain high service standards, and keep pace with community growth.
4. Enactment: Thanks to local state legislators, Governor Josh Stein signed the state budget amendment into law on July 7, 2026, and the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners officially approved the requested fire fee adjustments on August 3.
🏛️ Who Governs the Fire Fee Committee?
It is important to note that our individual fire department does not control the Fire Fee Committee or its decisions. To ensure strict oversight, accountability, and fair representation, state and local guidelines set a diverse committee membership made up of:
• 🚒 The Fire Chief
• 🏛️ The Mayor of each participating municipality in the district
• 💼 The Member of the Board of County Commissioners in whose electoral district more than 50% of the district's land area lies
• 👥 A Community Member chosen by the Fire Department Board of Directors
• 👥 A Community Member chosen by the Board of County Commissioners
• 📋 The Fire Marshal (or another official designated by the County Manager)
🛠️ Where Is This Funding Going?
1️⃣ Funding Additional Career Staffing: Our call volume continues to rise year over year. At the same time, fire departments nationwide are facing a sharp trend in declining volunteer participation. To ensure fast, 24/7 response times for medical emergencies, fires, and rescues, this revenue directly funds full-time and part-time personnel.
2️⃣ Replacing Our Aging Fleet & Fire Apparatus: Modern fire engines and rescue trucks are life-saving assets, but our current fleet is aging. Over the last several years, the cost to purchase, equip, and maintain fire apparatus has skyrocketed due to supply chain inflation and rising manufacturing costs. This funding directly supports our apparatus replacement plan so our crews have safe, reliable equipment when you call 911.
We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our community, municipal leaders, and county officials. Investing in your fire department ensures that when you or your family need help, we are ready to answer the call.
💬 Questions? If you have questions about your specific fire fee or our department’s operations, please reach out to us directly or visit the Brunswick County Tax Office portal: brunswickcountync.gov/Tax.
