(a) If the city has annexed any area which is served by a rural fire department and which is in an insurance district defined under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 153A-233, a rural fire protection district under Article 3A of Chapter 69 of the N.C. Gen. Stat. or a fire service district under Article 16 of Chapter 153A of the N.C. Gen. Stat., then upon the effective date of annexation if the city has not contracted with the rural fire department for fire protection, or when the rural fire department ceases to provide fire protection under contract, then the city shall pay annually a proportionate share of any payments due on any debt (including principal and interest) relating to facilities or equipment of the rural fire department, if the debt was existing at the time of adoption of the resolution of intent, with the payments in the same proportion that the assessed valuation of the area of the district annexed bears to the assessed valuation of the entire district on the date the annexation ordinance becomes effective or another date for valuation mutually agreed upon by the city and the fire department.

(b) The city and rural fire department shall jointly present a payment schedule to the Local Government Commission for approval and no payment may be made until such schedule is approved. (1983, c. 636, s. 23; 1998-150, s. 16; 2011-396, s. 3.)