Southeastern NC's Political & Economic Opinion Arena
A Question of Why, How, and Can it be Stopped or Prevented in the Future?
Below is a question I posed to the county government.
Beth, I would like to know if the county run Fire Stations are now doing fund raisers? The reason I'm asking is the Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. is having a bar-b-que on Feb. 4, 2012. Is this organization a part of the county? If not, do you know how the funds collected are used? Is this the same organization that gets paid the $1000.00 per month rent on the Castle Hayne fire station? If so, how did they wind up owning a building and land that was paid for with county tax dollars and donations? Is this the same arrangement with all the former volunteer stations? Do you know who actually gets this rent money and how it is spent? As always, I appreciate your time and responses to my questions. Thank-you, Rick Wilson
This is the reply I received.
The question of who legally owns the real or personal property funded by Fire District taxes depends on which entity purchased the property. If a volunteer fire department that is (was) contracted to serve a fire service district purchases the land, vehicles, buildings or equipment, or constructs or makes improvements to a fire station, the volunteer fire department owns the property. This is true even when 100% of the funds used to purchase, construct or pay for the financing of the asset is paid for with Fire Service District Taxes. If the County had purchased the property/assets in its own name, they would’ve belonged to the county. A number of years ago (after the issues with the HWY 421 station), the Fire Service District started to require all new fire equipment to be purchased by the FSD in the NHC FSD’s name, and then allowed the VFDs the use the equipment. However, the VFD buildings were either partially or fully funded, or later significant renovation was performed, in the VFD’s name. So although it seems counter intuitive b/c the tax payers paid for all (or a portion) of the construction and/or major renovations (and/or funded the debt) through FSD taxes, according to the law, the VFDs own the buildings/property. NHC FSD has rental agreements with several VFDs to be able to utilize their buildings. The rent is paid by NHC FSD to the VFD corporation (or trust or surviving entity) or directly to the bank (to satisfy outstanding loans). The Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc. is a completely separate and unique organization. New Hanover County is not privy to how the money is used (nor can it compel that information). Thanks, Beth
My questions now are as follows: Why is Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. still having fund raisers like the bar-b-que held on Feb. 4, 2012? Why is the county paying $1000.00 per month rent on a building tax payer money and donations built? How can someone gain title to such property legally? Since the cost of these stations were never put out for bids, therefor no competition, was it legal for taxpayer money to be used for private enterprise? The county now provides fire service in Castle Hayne, so what exactly does Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. do that requires fund raisers. Why did this fundraiser take place @ the fire department in Castle Hayne. How in our system of government can people or corporations receive tax money and collect money from the public for fund raisers and not have to disclose how the money is used? Who is the person(s) in charge of the money for Castle Hayne Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc. Since this organization no longer serves its intended purpose, shouldn't it dissolve, turn the property back over to the rightful owners (the Taxpayers), and donate any remaining funds to the county fire fund? In these tough economic times, or at any time for that matter, it is unbelievable that situations such as these are allowed to happen.
Also, would like to know if a group of individuals that once contracted to serve the public, but no longer does, can continue to be a non profit, not for profit, and continue to operate tax free? If this is legally possible, it's no wonder this county, state, and country are in dire economic condition.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Rick Wilson on
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From rant and rave on craig's list
Just to set the record straight about the fire service in general in new Hanover county controlled fire
districts it is a travesty to bash the former vol. fire departments who worked their asses off to get
nothing in the end of struggling with the county government and their power hungry ways while getting
woke up at all hours of the night and stopping time with their families and jobs to come help your sorry
asses in an emergency just to hear that they are/were squandering money and wastefully spending when
actually it was and is the county who drove volunteers from their posts and done everything in their
power to discourage the vfd's existence in order to garner their own power and control of the county
fire district and along the way ran off over one hundred and thirty seven volunteers under the veil of
saving money.... yes saving money???? How stupid is that you just ran off all the free help and now
to hire that many to replace them with paid help. You do the math and see who is the wasteful
ones before you speak. By the way WFD is having to answer the county calls also at the city residents
expense because county fire does not have enough personnel to cover their call volume and thats
smart ......I think not! Also a ton of vfd's money is and was donated to charity upon the closing of the
stations and the fundraisers held now are still for that purpose and if you don't like it don't go and
patronize them . How much money do you think volunteers gave away doing a job for free???? Think
about that.
I just love when a few get their panties in a wad and cry foul without the facts. Most of the volunteers are great people that self sacrificed to do a necessary job. The original post was not about them. When the county took over the fire stations, they did become better in the fact that the coverage is now 24-7, and EMT service is available at all stations. The fire rating at the stations became better, which reduced home owner insurance costs. The response time became quicker. This is not a slam on the majority of the volunteers, it is the truth. As far as the bar-b-que funds and picture funds, everyone knows how these funds were used, and seldom were they used for charity or equipment. You claim charity, prove it with bank records and canceled checks. I don't have a problem with the money in the "bar-b-que fund" while the stations were manned by volunteers. I don't think the public should have been allowed to believe this money was used to purchase equipment, but if it was divided equally among all the volunteers I don't have a problem with it. Now, however I have a big problem with the VFD's holding title to property paid for with tax dollars and donations, collecting rent from taxpayers on said property, and still holding fund raisers for your bar-b-que funds. You speak of truth? Want me to go away? Open the records and show the taxpayers of New Hanover County how all of this money was spent from day one and how someone or something owns these properties. Want to do what's right? Turn these properties over to New Hanover County without any further cost to the county, and when you have a fund raiser for charity, state which charity(s) and show how the funds were distributed publicly. Honorable people should not have a problem doing this.
© 2012 Created by Ben McCoy.
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