Hamlet and Davis Township residents were in attendance at the Hamlet Community Center Tuesday night to hear more information about a proposed Fire Protection Territory. It was the first of three public hearings scheduled on the topic.
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 also has an extensive background from his work with the Department of Local Government Finance.
The maximum levy does not allow for more funds to be allocated to the Hamlet-Davis Township Fire Department, but the formation of the Fire Protection Territory would help with that as a new tax would provide additional money. Two or more contiguous units can come together and propose a tax to establish a Fire Protection Territory which would help sustain emergency response, provide a solid financial base for the department and establish safety management for equipment and volunteers, according to Jones.
Hamlet-Davis Township Fire Department Captain Aaron Anderson said the money generated from the new tax would help the fire department afford insurance, fuel, utilities, new gear, equipment replacement, and do things that should be done annually, like testing, that cannot currently be done due to budget constraints.
There are 17 firefighters on the Hamlet-Davis Township Fire Department roster.
Jones said the taxpayers in the Town of Hamlet would see a 3 percent increase in property taxes and Davis Township taxpayers outside of the Town of Hamlet would see a 6.2 percent increase in property taxes. Those funds would increase to fund a proposed fire department budget from $59,000 to $99,000.
It was said that the ISO rating would improve and could lower insurance costs.
Residents asked about current budget numbers and if this new tax would be enough to operate the fire department. They also asked about the taxation of farm land and if other areas could provide funding to support the fire department.
No decisions were made Tuesday night. Additional public hearings are scheduled for Monday, February 28, at 7:30 p.m. CT and Tuesday, March 8, at 5:30 p.m. CT at the Hamlet Community Center at 15 W. Indiana Avenue in Hamlet. At the end of the third public hearing, the Davis Township Advisory Board and the Hamlet Town Council would meet to vote on the formation of the Fire Protection Territory.
