The Knox City Council members are working to move toward the formation of a Fire Protection Territory, but several public hearings will be held to gather public input on the process.
The Knox City Council members met in October 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 through a property tax increase to sustain the Knox-Center Township Fire Department.
The maximum levy does not allow the city’s 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 including equipment and the salary for at least one full-time firefighter or part-time firefighters to be at the station during the daytime.
The formation of the Fire Protection Territory would result in lower ISO ratings which would mean lower fire protection insurance costs.
The public hearings have not yet been set, but Knox Mayor Dennis Estok said the revenue impact would be explained during each meeting. Following the public hearings, a resolution to form a Fire Protection Territory would need to be passed by members of the Center Township Board and the Knox City Council. It would then need to be approved by the Department of Local Government Finance to receive funding.
