GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Some South Carolina residents could soon see a tax increase from a North Carolina fire district in response to recent disasters.Cedar Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue, based in Transylvania County, North Carolina, also serves part of the Upstate.District president Jimmy Jones said Hurricane Helene, along with the Persimmon and Table Rock fires, has fueled the need for funding from both states.As a result, the Greenville County Finance Committee approved an ordinance to raise tax...
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Some South Carolina residents could soon see a tax increase from a North Carolina fire district in response to recent disasters.
Cedar Mountain Volunteer Fire and Rescue, based in Transylvania County, North Carolina, also serves part of the Upstate.
District president Jimmy Jones said Hurricane Helene, along with the Persimmon and Table Rock fires, has fueled the need for funding from both states.
As a result, the Greenville County Finance Committee approved an ordinance to raise taxes by 3.2 mills for residents along the North Carolina border.
“To have this agreement in place where you have a North Carolina fire station that comes to the aid of our South Carolina residents is huge,” Councilor Joey Russo, who represents District 17, which borders North Carolina, said.
Russo said residents in areas like Cliff Ridge and Caesar’s Head State Park have experienced significant damage.
“In the past two months, we’ve had two major disasters up there with the hurricane and fires that put a massive stress on the local fire departments,” he said. “It just elevated our need to get further investment in.”
Jones added that Transylvania County recently increased funding for the fire district to purchase a new fire engine and add a full-time firefighter to expand coverage to 24/7 service.
“We currently have one firefighter that’s paid that covers one day a week. [They] cover when the other firefighters are at their regular jobs,” Jones said. He also emphasized the need for more vehicles due to the challenging terrain of Caesars Head State Park, noting that firefighters sometimes have to hike several miles through thick brush without proper equipment during search and rescues.
Russo said recent disasters put immense pressure on the fire district, which is now calling for additional support from Greenville County.
“In taxes in general, you want to know what you get out of it- your public safety and first response are what you should expect,” he said.
The Finance Committee unanimously approved the millage increase, which will now go to full council for a reading on July 15.
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