Spartanburg Fire Districts Get Nod for Property Tax Hikes
Residents in certain parts of Spartanburg County will soon be reaching deeper into their pockets as their property tax bills are set to rise following a recent vote. The local communities of the Hilltop Fire District, New Prospect Fire District, and the Westview-Fairforest Fire District overwhelmingly approved three separate measures for property tax increases. The ballot also gave a thumbs up to a $2.5 million bond issuance for the Hilltop Fire District aimed at station improvements and funding a new fire engine – a move seen as essential for maintaining the district’s fire services.
Details of the Tax Increases
The property tax increases received a strong backing, with each gaining at least around 60 percent of voters’ support.
For the Hilltop Fire District, residents affirmed a spike of 10 mills to the current rate, changing it from 45 to 55 mills. What does this translate to? Homeowners with a $100,000 home will see an increase of about $32.80 to their tax bills, bringing the total to $70.40. But residents can breathe easy as the fire district’s chief reassured that the hike to 55 mills won’t be enforceable immediately but instead will be slowly adjusted to keep pace with inflation.
Meanwhile, voters residing in the New Prospect Fire District agreed to raise the millage rate from its present 12 to 20 mills. This increase equates to an additional $34 on the property tax due for a $100,000 house, bringing the total to roughly $83. However, residents won’t feel this pinch immediately as it will only take effect in 2026.
The third increase vote was for the Westview-Fairforest Fire District. Here, supporters rallied behind increasing the millage rate from 27 to 36 mills. The fire district’s chief emphasized that this new rate would serve only as an upper limit, with the immediate increase not necessarily hitting this cap.
What the Increases Mean for the Fire Districts
The tax hikes will significantly relieve the fire districts that have occasionally grappled with operations and financing constraints.
In the Hilltop Fire District, Chief Donald Millis lauded the measure and projected it would facilitate additional hiring and salary raises. The tax boost will also fund renovations and improvements to the fire station’s living conditions, thanks to the voter-approved bond issuance worth $2.5 million.
For the New Prospect Fire District, the tax increase will finance the quest to convert part-time workers into full-time employees, according to Fire Chief Phil Caruso. He relayed the district’s struggle to operate on a tight budget for three decades since the last increase in 1994, adding that the recent increase proved vital.
Meanwhile, Westview-Fairforest Fire District’s Chief Scott Garrett said the tax hike would propel his district’s efforts to set up a third fire station and hire enough personnel to run it. Just as with the Hilltop Fire District, the exact millage rate increase won’t land on the proposed maximum of 36 mills immediately.
All three fire chiefs expressed gratitude to taxpayers for their approval. They felt enthusiastic about this support indicating recognition and appreciation of the fire departments’ work by the community.
