ASHEVILLE – Buncombe County is considering the consolidation of its 20 fire protection service tax districts into one district with a single tax rate, intended to ensure all residents have access to a basic, consistent level of fire protection.
If implemented, the funding model would not change how fire departments respond to 911 calls and residents would continue to be served by the same primary fire department in their area, the county explained on its website.
The proposed unified fire tax district would only change how fire district property taxes are collected and distributed in unincorporated areas of Buncombe County. Those districts range from Barnardsville and Broad River to Leicester, North Buncombe and Woodfin. It would not include Biltmore Forest, Weaverville, Black Mountain and the city of Asheville…