Even all vol FD need gear, materials, engines, a building or buildings, water, electricity, training, etcetc.
Yes, that’s why they fundraise. My hometown VFD runs a bar, with gambling —they have lots of money and all the newest trucks.
Well, of course they need funding. But the local funding doesn’t have to be Real Estate Taxes.
Our county used fire tags, and the citizens voted in a Sales tax to pay for roads. Still used RE for Schools.
I’m happy to support schools when they aren’t teaching garbage, but I’d prefer to do it with sales tax or some other way.