An additional $1.4 million for some Buncombe County volunteer fire departments would fund new firefighters and help with what chiefs said were crucial equipment needs, including vehicles that are as many as 16 years overdue for replacement.
Six departments — Enka-Candler, Fairview, French Broad, Riceville, Upper Hominy and West Buncombe — submitted requests to county commissioners for tax rate increases ranging from to 1-3 more cents.
Commissioners will consider the hikes June 20 as part of next year's proposed $334.5 million general fund budget. The county's overall property tax rate would remain unchanged.
A total of about $34 million in operations is expected next year for the volunteer departments. That's about 10% of the size of Buncombe's general fund.
Fairview's 3-cent increase was the largest and would pay for nine new firefighters and provide raises to existing employees. The department also submitted the largest request last year, asking then for a 6.5-cent increase that would have hired new personnel and helped pay for a substation.