The Knox City Council members met in special session last week where they received information concerning the formation of a Fire Protection Territory to better serve the residents in the City of Knox and Center Township.
Tippecanoe Township Trustee Bill Jones from Tippecanoe County presented the information where he was instrumental in the formation of the first 10 Fire Protection Territories in the state.
He said a Fire Protection Territory allows revenue to be generated to sustain the Knox-Center Township Fire Department.
Jones stated, “The Territory establishes a new tax rate that is the same for all of the taxpayers within the Territory that provides adequate funds for a department to survive.”
The maximum levy does not allow the General Fund budget to increase to provide resources necessary to the Volunteer Fire Department.
As a preliminary figure, Jones said the property taxes would increase 2.9 percent for property owners in the City of Knox and Center Township which would result in about a $300,000 annual revenue stream for the Fire Territory. The territory would cover 36 square miles which includes the City of Knox to 300 North, Range Road, Toto Road and to 600 East.
Jones said the revenue would fund identified needs within the department.
“We want to provide emergency response to the residents of the area, we want a solid financial base for the department, and we want to establish safety management for equipment and volunteers.”
The funds would also provide the salary for one full-time firefighter to be stationed during the daytime.
The formation of the Fire Protection Territory would result in lower ISO ratings which would mean lower fire protection insurance costs.
There were no decisions made during the meeting. Jones explained that if the council wants to move forward with this venture, four public hearings would need to be held to explain the tax impact, what the revenue would be used for and how the budget process would work. If a resolution passes by members of the Center Township Board and the Knox City Council, it would need to be approved by the Department of Local Government Finance to receive funding.
The council will discuss the topic in upcoming meetings.
