LANDIS — The Landis Board of Aldermen on Thursday asked the Rowan County commissioners to consider allowing a tax hike for the East Landis Fire District.

Currently the East Landis district has a tax rate of 4.25 cents per $100,000 valuation, but the town board agreed to go before the county and ask to raise the tax rate to 8 cents per $100,000.

Interim Finance Officer Roger Hosey presented the plan for the tax increase because the East Landis Fire District, compared to neighboring fire districts, had a significantly lower rate. The rates of neighboring areas are 7.26 cents in Mount Mitchell, 7.75 cents in Atwell, 8.45 cents in Bostian Heights and 8.55 cents in South Rowan.

Hosey also said the town had a rate of 5 cents in 1997-2000, lowering it in 2003 to 4.2 cents until 2014 and raising it to its current level at 4.25 cents.

Rowan County Emergency Services Fire Division Chief Deborah Horne told the aldermen commissioners have historically never raised a fire tax rate this significantly and the 8-cent rate may be denied. And Horne raised questions about whether the town of Landis might pull out of a contract to cover the East Landis district.

With the current tax rate, Hosey said, Landis generates $28,209.89 a year. With the proposed tax increase, it would be $53,100.96. Last year, Landis responded to 78 calls in that district.

Hosey said the tax increase could be used toward purchasing at least five sets of turnout gear, which the Fire Department needs.

Heather Vannoy-Wilhoit, an East Landis resident, said she would rather put off the tax increase as the town is figuring out its finances. Former Town Manager and Fire Chief Reed Linn and former Finance Officer Ginger Gibson are under investigation for possible embezzlement of town money.

Hosey said he and interim Town Manager Kenny Isenhour have been going through the town’s finances to figure out what needs may have been overlooked for many years.

“As we’re going through the progress, and I don’t want to digress here too much, but a lot of the things that Chief Isenhour and I have been doing here in our new roles is finding things that perhaps should’ve been given some more attention in the past that weren’t,” Hosey said.

Meredith Smith urged the aldermen to consider gradual increase.

“It’s somehow the town grasping for pennies to try to make up for loss,” Hosey responded. “That’s not the case. The case is services were being provided but the town people — the residents of Landis — are paying a bit more. If you do the math, then what’s being asked from the citizens in East Landis Fire District.”

Alderman Seth Moore agreed, saying the tax increase should be approved regardless of the embezzlement investigation because it could provide needed equipment to the Fire Department.

Mayor Mike Mahaley said the tax increase is long overdue.

The plan to raise the fire district tax rate to 8 cents per $100,000 valuation was unanimously passed.