The first of three public hearings was held Tuesday night at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox to outline a proposed Fire Protection Territory that would include Center Township and the City of Knox.
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.
He explained that the maximum levy does not allow the General Fund budget to increase to provide resources necessary to the Volunteer Fire Department. As a result, two or more contiguous units can come together and propose a tax to fund 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.
In this case, the Knox-Center Township Fire Department would have a full-time chief and three part-time staff members who would be paid by Territory dollars. It would also fund fuel costs, insurance, run calls, and some equipment.
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 taxpayers in the City of Knox would see a 3 percent increase in property taxes and Center Township taxpayers outside of the city would see a 7.3 percent increase in property taxes. Those funds would increase to fund a proposed fire department budget from a current budget of $134,500 to $325,000.
The Knox-Center Township Fire Department currently has 17 firefighters on the roster.
Fire Chief Kenny Pfost advocated for the Territory as it would provide resources needed to ensure the safety of the public and the firefighters. He mentioned that it would decrease the ISO rating which would mean a savings in insurance.
Several residents questioned the need for the tax, and why the whole county cannot supply tax dollars toward the fire department. Those who have farmland had several questions about how the land is taxes and about the higher tax percentage to be paid. Other residents asked for transparency to see how the current budget is being handled, and what the plans are for spending the tax dollars if the Territory is formed.
No decisions were made Tuesday night. Additional public hearings are scheduled for Monday, February 28, at 6 p.m. CT and Tuesday, March 8, at 6 p.m. CT at the Nancy J. Dembowski Community Center in Knox. At the end of the third public hearing, the Center Township Advisory Board and the Knox City Council would meet to vote on the formation of the Fire Protection Territory.
A Fire Protection Territory is also proposed in the Hamlet-Davis Township Fire Department district. Information on the first public hearing there will be presented in Thursday’s news.
