Fire Department Funding

Fire Chief Charles Drew urged commissioners to approve a resolution supporting a 50% fire fee increase with a 25% first-year cap, citing soaring equipment costs, call volumes, and staffing shortages.

Calabash Fire Chief Keith McGee explained that rapidly growing call volumes and equipment costs require stable, predictable funding rather than one-year stopgap grants.

Chief Charles Drew, speaking for the Brunswick County Fire Chiefs Association, urged the board to support supplemental funding, hold off on contentious contract changes, and avoid a single countywide tax district.