Sanford reviews fire dept’s response gaps, growth pressures and the budget

The Sanford City Council reviewed the fire department’s growth challenges, the city’s strategic framework, and the budget at the March 29 retreat. The Raleigh Executive Jetport hosted the meeting.

Fire Chief Matthew Arnold said increasing the city’s population density will increase the number of calls and reduce response times.

The city needs increased fire protection. The city’s fire radius map shows a lapse in service areas one, three, and four for a five-minute response and instead have a 10-minute response.

When the North Carolina Department of Transportation builds new roads, which are planned, area three will be covered.

Fire departments outside of the city district serve areas one, three and four.

Insurance companies regulate acceptable distances, and they require homes to have fire service within five miles for affordable insurance.

Serving Carolina Trace is a particular challenge because of its winding roads, and the gated community has it’s own fire department.

The vehicular density in Carr Creek, on Wilson Road, Commerce Drive and Horner Boulevard add to response delays for the city.

Fires double in size every 30-60 seconds.

Commerce Drive and Carr Creek areas have “at least a four-minute gap between” firetruck arrival times.

Traffic delays are a major hindrance. Arnold said new trucks have up to three spinning lights in red and white at about $5,000 each to alert drivers from up to a quarter of a mile away.

Satellite annexes are a particular challenge to serving areas with limited fire stations and limited firefighters.

“We have a recruiting challenge,” Arnold said about finding volunteers.

City Council Member Walter Ferguson asked about the number of minorities being recruited and said he wanted more diversity.

“We just redid our physical agility because we had a lot of people getting through that couldn’t pass the agility test. They are expected to work for ten to twelve minutes in gear. They really need to be certified. We try to pair them up with volunteer fire departments and send them to Central Carolina Community College. When we hire larger groups that are uncertified we have a better chance to increase our diversity. It is a three-month process to certify so they can go on the fire truck. We have three females now,” Arnold said.

“I don’t think the fire department excludes intentionally. The people need to know how to navigate the process. Some need to expunge police records. Need to start in high school,” Member Mark Akinosho said.

Strategic Framework

Sanford’s City Manager’s Assistant, Holly Marosites, presented the plans for economic prosperity for all, their number one goal.

The city had the same plans for several years and makes changes as they proceed. They have plans to increase the framework next year.

The differences include monitoring the effectiveness of the Buzzline program and trying to maintain the program’s funding.

They removed working with the Sanford Area Growth Alliance and the tourism department to explore rideshare and microtransit programs.

Under Goal two to preserve and create affordable housing, Member Charles Taylor suggested including Central Carolina Society for Human Resource Management in the microtransit advisory, and the city council agreed.

Affordable housing priorities included addressing the addition of accessory dwelling units to the Uniform Development Ordinance.

Goal 3 on downtown and historic Jonesboro included…

“We need to put our money where our mouth is,” Taylor said about investing in Jonesboro and keeping it separate from downtown to develop it properly, and the board agreed.

Akinosho said Jonesboro was not just Kendale Shopping Center, and that they needed to improve the entire area, which goes down to Coty, with a planned vision.

Planning & Infrastructure for Managed Growth was goal four, not number one.

Working with Lee County to update the Land Use Plan was listed under B as number seven, while number one under B was to enhance long-range growth planning.

Taylor said the city needed to announce what they were changing. “People want to trust government, and I think the more transparent we can be…” Taylor said about storytelling as marketing ideas.

The Budget

Concerning the General Fund, the sanitation fee increased 150% since 2013 because of the increased population, and they are trying to recoup the costs now with a $20 increase through the end of 2026 for bulk trash.

Taylor said the cost of the blue recycling carts and pickup every other week increased, and they should have a recycling center to save costs.

Akinosho said his home never fills the recycling cart, but it costs the same amount of money. “Maybe we should change to every two weeks.”

Revenue sources were based on the FY 25-26 approved budget. The investment percentage used to be 16% and is now only 2%. Investments are driven by state statutes that say they can only commit for a two-year account. NC Capital Project Trust is the primary account.

Tax revenue increased moderately.

Annexation will eventually increase the tax base, but it will not show value increases in property values until the builds are completed and sold.

“It is very unpredictable” said Town Manager Hal Hegwer.

Assistant City Manager Beth Kelly said one penny in the FY 26 will make $491,437.

The assessed values account for the increase in ad valorem revenue, which is the property tax billed to Sanford residents, commercial, industrial, and utilities, divided by 100 and multiplied by the tax rate.

The net ad valorem tax levy for FY25 was $25,481,617.

The burden of Cost of Community Services for residential property was 65% of the property valuations, but for commercial, industrial and public utilities, the rate was 35% of the property valuations.

Expenses

Sanitation increased due to the cost of service and number of household increases. Transportation increased for maintenance and it fluctuates. A $30 per vehicle tax was approved several years ago, but it is still not enough.

Public safety is 49% of the budget.

Budget Challenges

From a recruiting standpoint, the health insurance program is one of the leading incentives, according to Kelly. The program includes dental, vision and wellness.

Member Linda Rhodes said the stability of the program was reassuring.

Ferguson said he sells insurance, and the city’s program was better.

North Carolina House Bills 1009 and 765 related to property tax could chill services and or increase service costs and place existing services in jeopardy. The North Carolina General Assembly knows growth and property taxes work in unison and reviewed bills on March 18 for a constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

Read about that quandary tomorrow after the City of Sanford wraps up its retreat on how to  increase the quality of life for its residents.

The board will update its strategic framework and include it in a consent agenda in April.

Review the current framework here.

March 29, 2026

Stephanie M. Sellers

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.

Sandhills News is plain-English local government reporting that explains how decisions affect your land, taxes, schools and rights.