The City of Salisbury has proposed a new Fire and Life Safety Fee to all residents within the Salisbury Fire Service District.
The proposed Fire and Life Safety Fee would increase funding to the Salisbury Fire Department by a total of over $4.5 million, and allow the Department to ensure that the apparatus, equipment, and stations are the most up to date and are maintained in proper working order to best serve the residents of the Salisbury Fire District. Funding from the fee would ensure adequate staffing to handle an increased call volume expected with pending building permits and ensure units are available to respond to significant unplanned events (i.e. bomb threats, active assailant events, and mass casualty incidents).
The fee would only apply to residents of the Salisbury Fire Service District. The District includes all residents of the City of Salisbury and select areas of Wicomico County. To view the Salisbury Fire Service District map and determine if your property is affected by the Fire and Life Safety Fee, please click here.
Fee Information
| Commercial I, Commercial Condominium (CC), Country Club (CA), Industrial (I) | $300 |
| Residential (R), Commercial Residential (CR), Residential Condominium (U), Town House (TH) | $300 |
| Apartments (per unit) | $50 |
| Exempt (any, except City and County owned properties) | $300 |
| Land Only (Agricultural/Marsh) | $0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Fire and Life Safety Fee and what will it pay for?
The Fire and Life Safety Fee is a fee designed to fund the Salisbury Fire Department to ensure, maintain, and support the efficient response to all calls for service within the Salisbury Fire Service District.
Through this fee, all residents within the District (see map here) would be provided with full and complete fire protection and rescue services, EMS response and transport, advanced life support and transport, and advanced operations from the Salisbury Fire Department.
The funds generated by the Fire and Life Safety Fee would aid in funding competitive compensation for incoming and current personnel, capital purchases, and additional operating expenses due to a required expansion of services in response to community growth.
Who is charged this fee?
All residents of the Salisbury Fire Service District would be charged the fee. The fee amount is determined based on your parcel type. For more information on fee rates, see the above chart.
What is the Salisbury Fire Service District?
The Salisbury Fire Service District is the area served by the Salisbury Fire Department, established through an agreement between the City of Salisbury and Wicomico County. The district comprises six smaller districts that are served by Stations 1, 2, and 16, and expands beyond City limits to include select areas of Wicomico County.
To determine if your property is in the Salisbury Fire Service District, click here.
Why should I care?
Due to inflation and an unprecedented cost of operations, the Fire and Life Safety Fee is necessary to fund and maintain the standard of service provided by the Salisbury Fire Department. Without this additional funding, the Salisbury Fire Department may have to significantly reduce service area and special programs.
The Salisbury Fire Department strives to meet an international standard 4-minute response time to all calls for service. Staffing shortages, aging equipment, and increased community growth put a strain on response times. By funding the Salisbury Fire Department through the Fire and Life Safety Fee, the Department can continue to provide the highest level of care to the community with the fastest response times possible.
How did you choose these rates and what are they based on?
These rates are chosen based on market research and an assessment of our fire services. The City of Salisbury believes this rate is necessary to maintain the high quality of services provided by the Salisbury Fire Department, including award-winning services like the SWIFT Program, the Office of the Fire Marshal, and special operations such as haz-mat, rope rescue, trench rescue, and dive rescue.
Is this a one-time charge?
This is an annual fee billed and collected with your property taxes to support fire protection services from the Salisbury Fire Department. This is a new fee, which would begin in FY2024 (July 1, 2023).
How will I pay this fee?
If you are a resident within the Salisbury Fire Service District in City limits, the Fire and Life Safety Fee would be billed and collected on the City property tax bill.
If you are a resident within the Salisbury Fire Service District outside of City limits (in Wicomico County), the Fire and Life Safety Fee would be billed via mail by the City of Salisbury.
I pay taxes, why am I being billed for this?
This is a fee, not a tax. This fee is necessary to ensure that all property owners protected by the Salisbury Fire Department help pay for that protection.
The City of Salisbury believes this rate is necessary to maintain the high quality of services provided by the Salisbury Fire Department, including award-winning services like the SWIFT Program, the Office of the Fire Marshal, and special operations such as haz-mat, rope rescue, trench rescue, and dive rescue.
Will you be offering a Low Income Assistance Program for this fee?
We cannot offer a reduction to any residents based on income.