WINFALL — Town Council will hold two public hearings here on Monday, one on the town's proposed budget for 2024-25, the other on a proposal to lease Winfall's Volunteer Fire Department building and equipment to the Winfall Firefighters Association.
On its Facebook page, the town said the firefighting equipment and firehouse building at 341 Wiggins Road have a taxable value in excess of $700,000 and that the lease to the Winfall Firefighters Association would be made in "consideration for providing fire protection" to the town and its surrounding areas.
Winfall Mayor Preston White said in an email Friday that the town is proposing the lease to the Winfall Firefighters Association because the fire department "wants to go independent" of the town.
“At this current time, the WVFD (Winfall Volunteer Fire Department) wants to go independent," White said. "If this happens all these funds (for the town's fire department) will come from ... (Perquimans) county." He added that "nothing is final."
As an independent fire department, the Winfall Firefighters Association "believe they can receive more firefighting equipment," White said.
He reiterated that the Winfall Firefighters Association would continue to provide fire protection to Winfall citizens if the lease is approved.
Winfall Assistant Fire Chief Craig Trueblood said the firefighters association was surprised by the notice on the town's Facebook page when it was posted June 14. Trueblood said the firefighters association presented a contract to the town for fire protection services on May 13, but it didn't mention a possible separation from the town.
He said the current Winfall town budget, approved for the 2023-24 fiscal year that ends June 30, included $46,500 for the fire department to cover costs for firefighter retirement fund contributions, the cost of utilities, fuel and a few other items. Currently, Winfall's VFD includes 22 firefighters, all of whom live within six miles of the Winfall firehouse.
“We’ve never presented a contract with separation as part of it," Trueblood said. "The cost of operating is $40,000. In the past they (town officials) have given us a budget of different amounts. Sometimes it went up and sometimes it went down depending on the county’s budget."
Trueblood was apparently referring to Perquimans County's contribution to the Winfall Volunteer Fire Department, which was $100,000 this year but will be $105,000 in the budget county commissioners approved last week. All county VFDs are getting a $5,000 revenue boost in the 2024-25 county budget.
Trueblood said the Winfall VFD has been trying to separate "financially" from the town for years.
“We would like to be able to handle our own finances," he said. "That way we can save money that might be left over at the end of a year. Now, if you don’t spend (money) it goes back to the general fund."
The Winfall VFD currently operates with two fire engines, one tanker truck and one brush truck. A brush truck is a pickup truck with a tank and a small pump used to respond to grass fires and other small emergencies.
“Our latest truck is aging and it was purchased in 2007," Trueblood said. "You really should try to have a main engine that is less than 20 years old.”
One of the volunteer fire agency's concerns is being able to purchase new equipment like fire trucks on a more timely schedule, particularly given the long lead time for getting a new vehicle delivered.
"We had a stock truck in mind, one currently built by the manufacturer just to show off to prospective customers," Trueblood said. "The paperwork didn’t get completed in time to purchase it."
Winfall Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Steven Murray said the missed opportunity to buy the stock truck was a concern for the department. He said the Winfall Fire Association plans to have its officers attend Monday’s public hearing to answer any questions town officials or the public may have.
That hearing at Winfall Town Hall is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Prior to that hearing, Town Council will hold a hearing on Winfall's proposed budget for 2024-25 at 6 p.m. According to the town's website, the budget includes a general fund of $789,170, a sewer fund of $278,817.
Of the general fund's expenditures, $254,317 is for general government, $99,200 for public safety, $167,050 for roads and grounds, $46,000 for sanitation and $36,711 for debt service. The budget also includes $194,892 from the town's fund balance.
The proposed budget includes revenues of $289,000 from current-year and prior year real property taxes; $225,000 from sales taxes; $100,000 from Perquimans County for the Winfall Fire Department; $46,000 in solid waste fees; $36,000 in prior year Powell Bill funds and $20,000 in current year Powell Bill monies; $26,000 in franchise taxes; and $31,760 in other revenue.
The town's proposed budget for the Winfall Fire Department is $90,000. Of that amount, half will go toward the cost of fire equipment. Another $16,771 will go toward the payment on a fire truck; $9,000 for utilities; $9,029 for vehicle maintenance and gas; $4,000 for building maintenance and supplies; $3,000 toward firefighter retirement costs; and $1,200 for membership dues and banquet costs.
According to White, the town plans to hire a police officer "in the future" but won't be including any money in the 2024-25 budget for one. The town's police budget spends $8,700 on a police car payment and $500 for vehicle repair and maintenance and gasoline costs.
Asked what Winfall is contributing to the cost of law enforcement within town limits — the Perquimans Sheriff's Office provides the service now — White indicated the town isn't contributing anything right now.
"We are not yet ready to introduce that to the Town budget at this time ... due to pre-existing matters with the town," he said in the email. He did not elaborate.
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