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Event transcript
Public hearing #2 for the proposed fire territory. 00:00:00
Conversation ongoing between New Albany Township fire and Georgetown fire. 00:00:04
We'll first start off with a roll call. 00:00:10
My name is Kyle A new I'm the board president for New Albany Township. 00:00:13
Gibb Kinney, Treasurer. 00:00:18
Here, Scott Sears, secretary. 00:00:20
Ben Guite, board member. 00:00:25
I'll let the. 00:00:28
Record reflect that Chief is out of town doing training as well for leadership. 00:00:29
April Geltmacher is also present legal counsel. 00:00:36
This time we'll turn it over to you, Sir. 00:00:41
Thank you, Carl. My name is Michael Moody. I'm the chairman of the Georgetown Township Fire Protection District. 00:00:46
And for purposes of quorum. 00:00:51
Mr. David Fear. 00:00:54
Mr. Jeffrey McNulty. 00:00:59
Here, and we have, I think, technical issues resolved, Mr. Mark Ringenberg is. 00:01:00
Participating remotely. 00:01:07
But it's not counted as part of the quorum. 00:01:09
He's trying to get on teams if. 00:01:13
If he's able to. 00:01:15
And Mr. Travis Sharp is not here this evening. 00:01:17
So do phone prestige. 00:01:20
OK, Sir. 00:01:23
OK. 00:01:29
For both boards. 00:01:30
All right, for Georgetown, can I have a motion to open the public hearing? 00:01:31
Motion. 00:01:37
Thank you, Jeffrey. 2nd, 2nd. 00:01:38
OK. Thank you all in favor. 00:01:40
On behalf of New Albany Township, I'll take a motion to open the public hearing. 00:01:43
Got a motion from Mr. Gibb Kinney. 00:01:48
Take a second. 00:01:50
Ben Gupe will second that. 00:01:52
Motion carries. 00:01:54
OK. 00:01:57
And I do have confirmation Mr. Ringberg is watching, but he's not able to talk and we're we're not going to talk to Mark anyway to 00:02:00
try and keep this as simple as possible. 00:02:04
We'll wait for the presentation to come up. 00:02:12
While we're waiting a moment. 00:02:30
The way that we'll run this meeting is just like the last couple that we've held. 00:02:37
There will be a presentation with some. 00:02:41
Information on how we got where we are today. 00:02:43
And then we will have a presentation by Representative Baker Tilly. Miss Susan Cowan. 00:02:47
And then? 00:02:53
If there's any discussion amongst the board members. 00:02:54
Once that is all done, I'm sorry there also be a presentation by. 00:02:57
Mr. Keith Pulliam on the legal process. 00:03:01
Then we will open up for public comments. 00:03:04
We will turn that around so anybody that wishes to speak can come up. Please sign in. 00:03:07
We'll have 3 minutes for you to be able to speak. 00:03:13
I won't start the timer until you're done signing in, so you don't need to worry about rushing. 00:03:16
And if everybody has a chance to speak and somebody else wants to come back up and speak again, that's fine. We have had that 00:03:20
happen in the past. 00:03:23
We appreciate you taking time out of your schedule. We know everybody's busy. 00:03:27
And we hope that. 00:03:30
What we're going to present to you is educational. 00:03:32
So are we ready? 00:03:35
Excellent. 00:03:36
OK, so this presentation, as I said, is a little bit of the history and how we got to here. 00:03:40
Fire Protection service in this area was originally handled by all Volunteer Fire departments. 00:03:45
They did a really good job. 00:03:51
You probably know some of those people that did that. 00:03:53
But the volunteer model is no longer a viable option. 00:03:56
People do not live and work in the same area, so if you have something happened during the day when somebody's at work. 00:04:01
They're not able to respond. 00:04:06
Society is also busier and there's less ability to be a volunteer firefighter. 00:04:08
And really the clincher is? 00:04:12
That being a firefighter today is a lot different than it used to be 10/15/20 forty years ago. 00:04:15
The education requirements, the training requirements, the. 00:04:21
Equipment, uh. 00:04:25
So to address that. 00:04:26
To address that, the state created what is called a fire district. 00:04:29
It provided a revenue stream so that you could have professional Fire Protection service in your community. 00:04:34
But unfortunately, the revenue stream is not keeping up with the growth in our area. 00:04:41
And the model just is not working anymore. 00:04:47
So there is another entity created by the legislature. 00:04:51
And it has been updated recently. 00:04:55
It is a newer way to provide Fire Protection services. 00:04:57
And it's called a fire territory. 00:05:00
Two or more taxing units, either townships, municipalities or fire districts, can come together if they share a physical border. 00:05:02
And form a fire territory. 00:05:10
And there are some advantages between the fire territory and fire district model. One of them is that it consolidated fire 00:05:11
services. 00:05:15
So why create a fire territory? 00:05:20
It will better align Fire Protection with the community needs. 00:05:23
It will provide professional Fire Protection for southern New Albany Township. 00:05:27
And will increase Fire Protection for Georgetown and New Albany Township. 00:05:31
And. 00:05:35
Pressing for that is it addresses the revenue imbalance for the districts. 00:05:37
Because the current district model is not sustainable. 00:05:42
Fire territory will have one command structure. 00:05:49
It will increase efficiencies and training equipment. 00:05:52
Standard operating procedures. Human resources accounting. 00:05:55
And it will provide the revenue stream necessary to provide professional Fire Protection for our community. 00:05:58
So last year in the first quarter, Georgetown Fire was approached by Franklin Township. 00:06:07
About forming a fire territory. 00:06:11
In May last year, New Albany Township. 00:06:14
Said hey, we want to have this conversation with you also. 00:06:17
So Georgetown Fire contracted with Baker Tilly. 00:06:20
To calculate the impact to the community. 00:06:23
We received our first draft of that report last October. 00:06:25
That data has been presented to the public. 00:06:29
At four times prior to starting, the territory required public hearings. 00:06:32
So this is actually the sixth time. 00:06:38
That this information is being presented to the public. 00:06:41
State statute requires 3. 00:06:45
Meetings. 00:06:47
In mid January earlier this year, Franklin Township decided the timing wasn't right for them to participate and withdrew from the 00:06:50
project. 00:06:54
Georgetown Fire and New Albany Township Fire decided to continue. 00:06:58
We requested new data from Baker Tilley. 00:07:01
With just the two entities instead of the original 3. 00:07:04
And the name we are working with is the Floyd County Fire Territory. 00:07:08
And I've said this before publicly, I really appreciate the work Baker Tilly did. 00:07:12
In a last moment, coming up with all that new data. 00:07:16
The two districts have worked together to create a master plan for the new territory. 00:07:22
Georgetown Fire will beat the providing agency. 00:07:27
Chief Ned Weissman will be the chief of the territory. 00:07:30
Chief Tim Franklin will be the deputy chief of the territory. 00:07:33
All current firefighters of both districts will be employed by the department. 00:07:37
And the. 00:07:41
Labor agreement between local 5393 at Georgetown will be the control and document as far as the. 00:07:42
Labor agreement. 00:07:49
We are required by state statute between January 1st and March 31st this year. 00:07:52
To hold three public hearings to educate the community. 00:07:57
February 13th was our first. 00:08:01
February 27th Tonight is our second. 00:08:03
Our next one will be March 10th. 00:08:07
And it's going to be at Georgetown Station 2. 00:08:09
At 5:00 PM. 00:08:12
This room is not available. 00:08:14
So we had to pivot and we're going to hold it at Georgetown Fire Station 2 on Court and Ridge Rd. 00:08:16
Then a fourth. 00:08:21
Meeting will be an adoption hearing or meeting. 00:08:23
And that will be here, Pineview Government Center at 5:00 PM on March 21st. 00:08:26
I just want to take a moment. There's some. 00:08:32
Incorrect information being floated around in the industry. The reason why some of these states changed. 00:08:34
The Commissioners earlier this year. 00:08:41
Change the oversight of the fire district boards. 00:08:43
This board and this board had nothing to do with it. 00:08:47
It was completely within the commissioners purview that they. 00:08:50
Made a change and what they did is they wanted to streamline the boards a little bit. 00:08:54
So all the boards now have 5 board members. 00:08:57
We didn't suggest a number. We didn't suggest people. 00:09:01
This was completely done by the Commissioners. 00:09:04
And some people are unfortunately saying some things that are not accurate. 00:09:07
But that is what happened. It had nothing to do with the fire territory discussion. 00:09:11
There are three fire districts currently in the community. 00:09:16
All three of them had their boards. 00:09:19
Change to five members. 00:09:21
Highlander has five members now, and they're not part of this discussion here today. 00:09:23
So any attempt to say that changing the board members had something to do with the fire territory? 00:09:28
They're two separate issues. They have nothing to do with each other. 00:09:33
And then just finishing up. 00:09:37
After going through the process and working with the DLGF. 00:09:42
Over the summer. 00:09:45
The plan would be the January 1st, 2026 the new territory would take effect. 00:09:46
I want to show some data from. 00:09:52
Georgetown Fire. 00:09:55
To illustrate. 00:09:56
How we got where we are today. 00:09:58
This is. 00:10:00
A look back of the tax impact to the community since the formation of the fire district nearly 20 years ago in 2007. 00:10:01
Taking a closer look. 00:10:09
I'm sorry, I forgot to hit the buttons. 00:10:10
One of my favorite people. 00:10:13
Taking a closer look at. 00:10:14
The last 10 years in 2014. 00:10:16
The tax rate for Georgetown was .35 or $0.35 per $100.00 of assessed value. 00:10:19
That has been reduced 37% over the 10 years. 00:10:26
Georgetown Fire has never gone to the community and asked for more an increase. 00:10:30
In our levy. 00:10:34
We operate. 00:10:35
With zero debt. 00:10:37
We're not paying any interest on outstanding debt. 00:10:38
But while that. 00:10:45
Tax levy decreased 37% over that same 10 year period. 00:10:46
Our run total is increased 80%. 00:10:50
From 639 to last year. 00:10:52
High of 1151 runs. 00:10:55
In the summer and fall of 2022 as we were still trying to come out of the COVID. 00:11:03
Fun. We did some analysis on the runs in Georgetown. 00:11:10
And at that time we were staffing Station 2 on Cordon Ridge Rd. 24/7. 00:11:16
And we were staffing station one with a light crew. 00:11:21
During the day, I think it was 8:00 to 4:00. 00:11:26
We did that because we wanted to have a closer response rate to the. 00:11:29
Elementary school, something happened. 00:11:33
But when we looked at the data, we found that 60% of the runs during the day. 00:11:35
We're on the east side of the district. 00:11:40
Which is. 00:11:42
Where Georgetown Station 2 is. 00:11:43
But at night, between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM, 60% of the runs were on the West side of the district. 00:11:45
And we didn't have any coverage in that area of the district. 00:11:51
Because it was only during the day. 00:11:54
So we went ahead, came up with a plan, working with command staff and. 00:11:56
Board and we decided to open Station 1 and staff at 24/7. 00:12:00
We did not ask for an increase in revenue to do that. 00:12:05
We've been paying for that. 00:12:08
Through funds that we had in our bank account that we had not spent. 00:12:10
It's not a sustainable model. 00:12:14
Last year. 00:12:18
We had 47 times where both stations were out on the run at the same time. 00:12:20
And we would not have been able to. 00:12:25
Cover those runs. 00:12:27
If we only had one station in, that call came in during the. 00:12:29
Currently both districts. 00:12:36
Provide Fire Protection to the community via Georgetown Fire Station 1. 00:12:38
3 firefighters 24/7. 00:12:42
Station 2. 00:12:44
For firefighters, 24/7. 00:12:46
Battalion Chief. 00:12:48
And then the chief and deputy chief 40 hours a week with their own call 24/7. 00:12:50
New Albany Township. 00:12:55
At the Charlestown Rd. station is 3 firefighters 24/7. 00:12:57
And the chief and the deputy chief that worked 40 hours a week. 00:13:01
But realistically, we're on call 24/7. 00:13:04
What we're proposing is increased to four fire stations. 00:13:08
Fully staffed Bud Road 24/7. 00:13:12
With a longer range plan to reevaluate if that's the best location for the community. 00:13:15
Increased staffing at Charlestown Rd. NFPA standards are that if you have a ladder as your truck or your fire engine. 00:13:21
You really should have 4 firefighters on it. 00:13:28
So we want to up the staffing. 00:13:31
From the current 3. 00:13:33
To four. 00:13:35
And add a Battalion Chief 24/7. 00:13:36
Fire prevention is required of a territory and we're proposing creating a full time staff position of a fire Marshall. 00:13:39
They would work full time to help prevent fires. 00:13:46
Educate the community on fire prevention and work on code compliance. 00:13:49
We've gotten feedback that this chart is. 00:13:55
Confusing, and I apologize. We've made the decision not to update and change it because we pretty much want most of the details, 00:13:58
the meat of the presentation, to stay the same for all the public hearings. 00:14:03
What this is showing though is there's two command staff. 00:14:09
A chief and a deputy chief. 00:14:12
That's it. 00:14:14
Everybody else. 00:14:15
On this chart is a firefighter. 00:14:16
On an engine. 00:14:19
On the ladder truck responding to emergency runs. 00:14:20
Georgetown Station 2. 00:14:25
I'm sorry, Georgetown Station 1. 00:14:27
Engine 2 on the far left red. 00:14:29
Box has three firefighters on that. As I previously said, 24/7, 3 firefighters. 00:14:32
Georgetown Station 2. 00:14:38
Latter 2 right next to it. 00:14:40
Has four firefighters, 24/7. 00:14:42
And then the Battalion Chief. 00:14:45
The yellow above it floats around. 00:14:47
And goes where is most needed. 00:14:49
So in Georgetown you would have 3 firefighters downtown and four. 00:14:51
On Coordinate Ridge Rd. and a Battalion Chief. 00:14:56
For the. 00:15:00
Charles, I'm sorry, the New Albany. 00:15:01
Fire District. 00:15:04
The Charlestown Rd. 00:15:05
Ladder 49 over on the right side. 00:15:07
Would have 4 firefighters. 00:15:09
And then Engine 41 Bud Rd. would have 3 firefighters. 00:15:12
And there would also be a Battalion Chief. 00:15:15
Again, roaming around. 00:15:18
Best place to offer the most experience and leadership. 00:15:20
So I know there are a lot of boxes on this, but some of them are engines. 00:15:23
Some of them are. 00:15:28
District. 00:15:29
They're not all people. 00:15:30
But there would be 3 firefighters at one fire station, 3 firefighters at the Bud Rd. 00:15:32
For firefighters at Georgetown Station 2 and 4 firefighters at. 00:15:38
Charlestown Rd. Fire Station. 00:15:41
If this is still confusing. 00:15:44
When we're done, I'd be happy to talk to you. I apologize if this has not been helping our discussion as much as we had hoped. 00:15:46
So, working with the boards and the command staff of both fire districts, we came up with a proposed budget. 00:15:55
Taking those numbers. 00:16:04
And working with Baker. 00:16:07
They came up with what the impact of the community will be. 00:16:08
And Miss Cowan is going to give us those numbers here in a minute. 00:16:12
I want to qualify what you're about to hear though. 00:16:17
The presentation is required by law that we're presenting to you the worst case scenario. 00:16:21
We take very seriously the resources that the community provides to the districts to provide Fire Protection service. 00:16:27
And I think our history. 00:16:34
Especially Georgetown that I'm familiar with. 00:16:35
We've been very good financial stewards of those resources. 00:16:38
The calculations that you're going to see assume that all funding is shifted to property tax levy. 00:16:44
Currently, both districts get almost 1/4 of their revenue through local income tax. 00:16:50
It is unknown if we are going to be able to collect local income tax for the territory. 00:16:55
It also is unknown if the new public safety local income tax. 00:17:00
Will contribute revenue to the fire territory. 00:17:04
But. 00:17:08
If any local income tax goes to the territory, that would reduce the impact to the property tax levy. 00:17:09
Dollar for dollar. 00:17:16
We're not going to try and get more money or something like that. 00:17:17
So with that caveat, I'd like to turn it over to. 00:17:21
Susan. 00:17:24
Who works with Baker Tilly? 00:17:25
Which is a. 00:17:28
Top ten CPA firm and a preeminent advisory tax insurance firm in Indiana. She's a senior manager and a CPA. 00:17:29
So, Susan. 00:17:36
Thank you, Michael. 00:17:37
It's a pleasure to be here this evening. 00:17:39
As Michael said, there are very strict requirements to forming a fire territory, how these meetings go and the type of information 00:17:41
that must be shared. 00:17:45
Aside from the plans for the fire territory itself and fire service and any expansions are changed to fire service. 00:17:50
It is required that taxpayers hear about potential changes to their property tax bills. 00:17:57
And that overlapping units in the county get information on changes to three specific types of of. 00:18:02
Are three specific things that affect their revenues either circuit breaker loss? 00:18:09
Supplemental motor vehicle taxes and local income tax. 00:18:13
So as Michaels already covered a little bit of my first. 00:18:18
First, first slide and 2nd slide where we talk about what a fire territory is, why they're being established. 00:18:20
I want to make sure you understand that there's very few ways. 00:18:27
That units can increase the tax levy that they receive for a given purpose. 00:18:30
The Legislature specifically put. 00:18:35
The fire territory and fire district statutes in place. 00:18:37
And allows those units to somewhat reset their property tax levy. 00:18:41
Because they understand that many areas in the state have outgrown their levees as far as it. 00:18:45
Coming to providing fire service, there's nothing similar to this for police protection. 00:18:50
There's something somewhat similar but not as expansive if a Township decides to disband and or join another Township or another 00:18:56
municipality. 00:18:59
But again, fire service is one of the only ways that units can come together to provide services and set new levies for that 00:19:04
service. 00:19:08
As Michael mentioned, Georgetown will be what is called the Provider unit. 00:19:15
One of the two of the units that participates. 00:19:19
And the territory has to be the center, central point for. 00:19:21
Receiving property tax, making payments and handling the general administration of the territory. 00:19:25
That doesn't mean that New Albany is any less of a participant, it's just that only one can. 00:19:31
Take on that role as participating unit. 00:19:36
And it doesn't have to be permanent if at some point down the road. 00:19:38
Things shift and they want to make New Albany. 00:19:42
The provider unit, that can happen as well, but so in this case, Georgetown would bring like as I said, bring in the property tax 00:19:44
levy on behalf of the territory. 00:19:48
Because a territory is not a separate independent taxing unit, it is not a legal entity. The territory in itself cannot go out and 00:19:52
buy a truck or take out a loan. 00:19:57
The territory is a sub department of what would be the. 00:20:02
Fire District. The Georgetown Township Fire District. 00:20:05
So Georgetown will be responsible for having the annual budget approved. 00:20:09
And then perform this necessary accounting functions and financial items related to provision of fire service. 00:20:12
So we can jump on to the next slide. 00:20:20
So the way that the process works to determine the levy that's necessary to support fire services is the first thing was. 00:20:24
They provided a budget. These are the expenses we expect to have. 00:20:31
When we bring these two districts together. 00:20:34
To provide fire service for all of that territory. 00:20:36
Based upon that budget. 00:20:40
We then. 00:20:42
What are the units paying now for fire service? How much are they receiving? How much are they paying? 00:20:44
What is the tax rate necessary to? 00:20:49
For fire service in 25. 00:20:52
Then we'll look at what the necessary rate is for service under the territory. 00:20:54
And we determine what that net effect is because the statute says. 00:20:59
That the existing levies. 00:21:03
That the two districts are using for fire will be eliminated. 00:21:05
And they will be replaced with the new one for the fire territory. 00:21:09
There is one exception for the New Albany district on some outstanding debt. 00:21:12
As long as that debt remains. 00:21:16
Active. 00:21:18
There will be a levy. 00:21:19
On New Albany South Side only. 00:21:21
For that debt. 00:21:23
Levy that they currently have. 00:21:24
So on this slide where we have these teal and red boxes. 00:21:27
On the left hand side of the screen. 00:21:31
Is the Georgetown district current for 2025 based upon the budgets that they have submitted? 00:21:33
To the Department of Local Government Finance. 00:21:39
The expenses they're planning for 25 and then the associated revenues they have coming in. 00:21:41
So the green box is the revenues, only property tax related revenues. 00:21:46
So that doesn't include their local income tax currently. 00:21:50
As Michael referenced. 00:21:53
This is only property tax, a little almost $2.3 million. 00:21:54
Then they're spending roughly 3.2. 00:21:59
Again, like you said, that doesn't mean it's not being funded. It's being funded from the local income tax that they receive. 00:22:02
So even though that looks like a. 00:22:07
Deficit budget. They have funds available. 00:22:09
It's just not may, may not be sustainable long term. 00:22:12
Then on the right hand side, that's the current Georgetown district. Again, this is just covering provision of fire service. 00:22:16
They're currently about breaking even on their tax revenue. 00:22:21
And their expenses. 00:22:25
About two and a half million. 00:22:26
Almost 2.6 million. 00:22:28
And then again about 2.5, a little over 2.5 million in expenses. 00:22:30
The next page compares the budgets that they currently have. 00:22:36
To the budgets that they would plan. 00:22:39
With the territory. 00:22:41
So any of the bars here in red? 00:22:43
Are comparing that's the what they're planning for the territory. 00:22:46
The blue bars are the current budget and we've combined. We've put New Albany and Georgetown together for the 25 numbers. 00:22:50
So you can kind of look side by side. 00:22:56
So all government expenditures are lumped kind of into 4 main categories, personal services, which is salary, wages, benefits, 00:22:58
anything related basically to. 00:23:02
Retaining, hiring and retaining people. 00:23:07
Then there's supplies. 00:23:09
Pretty self-explanatory. Other services and charges. Are those things like service contracts? 00:23:11
Utilities, anything that you need other to wise to support and run a fire service. 00:23:17
Then there's also capital outlays. 00:23:22
I want to stress that the. 00:23:25
Levy, umm. 00:23:26
To support fire territory services. 00:23:28
Was based upon the operating budget. Only those day-to-day operating expenses. 00:23:31
If there are large capital expenses such as. 00:23:37
Buildings or trucks, those numbers have not been included. 00:23:40
In the operating budget. 00:23:44
Those will either have to be paid for. 00:23:46
Through something called the Equipment replacement Fund, which is a specific fund that the territory can adopt. 00:23:49
To fund capital purchases. 00:23:55
Or would have to consider bonding or loans and something or something like that in the future. 00:23:57
So mentioning the equipment replacement fund? 00:24:02
I want to say one other thing about that tonight is what we would call the public hearing also for that equipment replacement 00:24:05
fund. 00:24:08
After we get through everything talking about the. 00:24:11
Fire territory in general will have another public hearing opened at the end of this meeting. 00:24:14
For comments on the equipment replacement fund. 00:24:19
Now there is a remonstrance that is available. 00:24:23
For the equipment replacement fund only. 00:24:27
Not for the territory. So if. 00:24:30
You have something you want to say tonight about the equipment replacement fund in specific. You can do that during that portion 00:24:32
of the public hearing. 00:24:35
And then if you want to file. 00:24:39
Your opposition. 00:24:41
To that equipment replacement fund specifically, you can do so with the county auditor. 00:24:43
There will be. 00:24:48
If it's adopted, if the equipment replacement fund is adopted at that meeting on. 00:24:49
March 21st there will be a notice published in the paper. 00:24:53
And after that notice is published, you have 30 days to file that remonstrance with the county auditor. 00:24:57
So we can go over this again at the end right before the public hearing for the equipment replacement fund. 00:25:03
I used to sort of wanted to highlight what that is and what that means. 00:25:08
So again, any of those capital items? 00:25:12
It is based upon a finite rate. 00:25:15
Tax rate of .0333. 00:25:17
And will not increase. 00:25:20
So at that point you based upon that assessed value you collect only as much as that rate will allow for capital purchases, 00:25:22
whether that's there, whether it's spent this year, next year, future years. 00:25:27
It can be accrued for long periods of time, or it can be spent right up front. 00:25:32
So the next page, page 8. 00:25:38
Is the calculation of how we arrived at the rate for the territory. 00:25:40
So. 00:25:46
That we have those operating budgets. 00:25:47
For 2026 is. 00:25:49
Over 6.3 million, 2027 it's about 6.7. 00:25:51
And then about 2028 and six point. 00:25:54
In 2028 around 6.8 million. 00:25:57
The capital budget, which is the separate equipment replacement fund, is .0333 cents that. 00:25:59
That, we're estimating would be about 621 thousand the first year of the territory. 00:26:05
644,000 the second year and 670 the third year. Again, that's based upon increases in that assessed value. 00:26:10
The territory statute allows. 00:26:18
The first year to levy for a cash reserve. 00:26:20
Of up to 20%. 00:26:23
This budget does include a 20% cash reserve. That's what the $1.267 million is. 00:26:25
So for the first year, the total funding requirement. 00:26:32
Would be $8,227,981. 00:26:35
Because the territory will receive property tax, it also gets something called supplemental motor Vehicle taxes. 00:26:39
As individuals go to the BMV and put plates on their trucks, their cars, their boats, their planes. 00:26:45
Those fees are collected and a portion of them are redistributed to all units in the county that receive property tax. 00:26:52
So that doesn't mean that you are. 00:26:59
Plate fees are going to go up because of the fire territory. 00:27:00
It just means that. 00:27:04
The territory will now be in part of the distribution, so currently. 00:27:05
The two fire districts are receiving these supplemental taxes, so somewhat you can think of it, what they're currently getting 00:27:09
will be replaced. 00:27:12
They'll be taken away, and they'll be. 00:27:16
That just under the fire territory instead of under the two separate districts. 00:27:17
So we would anticipate they would receive not quite $400,000 in those supplemental vehicle taxes in 2026. 00:27:22
So we've subtract that amount from these funding requirements in 26. 00:27:30
The total amount to be raised from property taxes is $7,836,077. 00:27:35
We divide that. 00:27:41
By the estimated net assessed value. We don't know yet what that number will be for sure. 00:27:42
We've had an analysis run and this is the number they've estimated, so all the current territory for both of these districts would 00:27:47
be taken into account. 00:27:50
And that's a little over. It's almost 2 billion dollars, 1,778,000,000. 00:27:54
2491 dollars. 00:28:00
We then in Indiana, we tax things based upon $100 values of increments of net assessed value. 00:28:03
So we come out with the necessary property tax of .4407. 00:28:09
That will then be included. 00:28:15
Part of the district rate. 00:28:17
For the three taxing districts that are included in these current 2. 00:28:19
Fire Districts 1. 00:28:22
We have Georgetown Township, Georgetown Town, and New Albany Township. 00:28:24
So the next two pages attempt to show. 00:28:28
The base, The estimated cash flow. 00:28:30
For the fire territory. 00:28:33
They will potentially have to make some budget cuts due to circuit breaker loss. 00:28:35
We also. 00:28:39
Don't know for sure what's going to happen in the legislature. 00:28:40
This year with changes to property tax for the next two to three years. 00:28:43
So there may be. 00:28:47
These would be total maximum amounts because if anything. 00:28:48
What it looks like the Legislature is looking at may reduce property tax in the future. 00:28:52
So again, it's what kind of as Michael referenced earlier, these are all sort of. 00:28:56
Maximum. 00:29:00
Most type scenarios. 00:29:01
You can go on to. 00:29:04
No, past that one. 00:29:06
Next one that one is. 00:29:08
So this next couple pages attempt to show the impact to your district property tax rates. 00:29:11
So. 00:29:17
When you pay your property tax bills, money doesn't go to just one place in the county. It goes to multiple taxing units within 00:29:18
the within Floyd County. 00:29:22
It goes to the county unit itself. 00:29:27
To the Township. 00:29:29
Currently it's going to fire districts. 00:29:31
May also go depending upon where your. 00:29:33
Property. Is that just how that your taxing district is decided? 00:29:35
It's where it's located. 00:29:39
It could be going to a there's a school portion. 00:29:41
There could be a solid waste management district, there could be a park district, there could be anyone of a number of different 00:29:43
type of units. 00:29:46
That could receive parts of your property tax. 00:29:50
So when we take out. 00:29:53
Current rates. 00:29:55
For the fire districts and replace it with that new $0.44. 00:29:56
For the fire territory. 00:30:01
We're trying to show you here what that change would look like. So the first block. 00:30:03
Here on page 12 on the left hand side is if your home is in Georgetown Township, that's taxing District 002. 00:30:07
You can see that on your property tax bill. 00:30:14
Which you don't have yet. 00:30:16
For 25, those will be coming out in the next few weeks. 00:30:18
But the estimates lead us to believe that you're, we know that you're certified district tax rate for 2025 is the blue bar. Each 00:30:22
year it's the blue bar that's your 2025 rate. 00:30:28
Of 1.6140. 00:30:33
So the first year. 00:30:36
The net effect change of adding in the fire territory. 00:30:38
Would raise your tax rate to 1.8436. 00:30:42
The second year when we removed that portion for the. 00:30:47
Excess reserve, that 20% reserve. 00:30:52
The rate would be estimated to drop to 1.7777. 00:30:55
And then stay virtually the same the second year, maybe drop a little bit. Again, this is all dependent upon actual net assessed 00:31:00
values. 00:31:03
But that third year it could be around 1.77. 00:31:07
6/6. 00:31:10
So each, that blue bar each year is just meant to sort of give you an idea of what you're paying in 25 and then what 26, seven and 00:31:11
eight would look like. 00:31:15
If your home and property is in Georgetown town. 00:31:20
District 003. 00:31:23
Your current rate for 2025 is 1.8886. 00:31:25
The net effect with the fire territory addition would be 2.1182. 00:31:30
The first year. 00:31:35
2.0523 the second year. 00:31:36
Or 2.0512, the third year. 00:31:39
The next one on page 13 is showing the New Albany Township District 007. 00:31:44
That current rate? 00:31:49
Is 1.6058. 00:31:51
With the territory would be estimated 1.8564. 00:31:54
The first year. 00:31:59
1.7905 the second year. 00:32:00
And 1.7894, the third year. 00:32:03
So part of the reason to undertake. 00:32:07
The fire territory is it? 00:32:10
Equalizes the rate or the amount for fire service amongst the districts. 00:32:12
The taxing districts that are involved. 00:32:18
So the next I think 3 pages or maybe 6 pages attempt to show. 00:32:21
Based upon certain home values. 00:32:25
What your 20 where your? 00:32:27
Money from your 2025 tax bill is going and where it would be going and what those amounts would be for 2026. 00:32:29
So the first one we're talking about $100,000 home. 00:32:36
Homes received some special consideration in that you can file with the auditor to receive a. 00:32:39
Homestead property tax credit. 00:32:44
And then there is a second supplemental credit that is applied to those values. So if your home is worth. 00:32:46
Gross assessed value of $100,000. You are taxed on roughly $36,000 of that after the homestead and the supplemental credits. 00:32:52
So. 00:33:03
2025 on the left hand side of the page, that tax bill would calculate to roughly 470 dollars. 00:33:04
In 2025. 00:33:10
You can see that large orange chunk of that 400 and 73108 is going to the New Albany Floyd County Schools. 00:33:12
$18.00 is going to the New Albany Floyd County Public Library. 00:33:19
$80.00 is going to itself to the. 00:33:24
Floyd County. 00:33:27
Then Georgetown Township is getting $2.00 roughly to provide their additional services. Whether that's. 00:33:29
Helping individuals. 00:33:35
You know if they need. 00:33:36
Housing assistance or utility bill assistance or cemeteries or any of those other things that townships provide. 00:33:37
And then fire service is currently $62.00. 00:33:43
With the fire territory on the left hand side, we're only trying to show the change relative to the fire territory. 00:33:47
We realize that there are other things that can cause your property tax bill to change. 00:33:53
But we have no way of knowing all of those things currently. We don't know what the county might be doing or what the library 00:33:58
might be doing for sure. So we are just trying to isolate. 00:34:02
The impact of the fire territory. 00:34:06
So in this case. 00:34:09
Within 26, we would estimate your bill to be $537 on that $100 home. 00:34:10
The only change being. 00:34:17
That red portion of the pie? 00:34:19
Is now larger and represents $129 rather than the previous 62. 00:34:21
So for the next one. 00:34:30
We have that was page 14. Page 15 we have Georgetown Township. 00:34:32
So in this case, remember they had a higher tax rate. 00:34:39
So I think this is a $200,000 home. I'm so sorry. It's a $200,000 home in Georgetown Township again. 00:34:41
This home would have the same. 00:34:47
Residential. 00:34:50
Homestead credit and then a supplemental credit so it's not taxed on the full $200,000. It's somewhere. 00:34:51
Around $100,000 at the actual tax bill. 00:34:57
Run on. So in this case, that bill would be about $1375 in 2025. 00:35:00
$900.00 of that bill would go to the school. 00:35:07
53. 00:35:09
To the library 235 To the county. 00:35:11
Roughly $7.00 to the Township and currently they're paying about 180 for fire service from their tax bill. 00:35:14
With the. 00:35:20
Fire territory in 2000 and 2026. 00:35:21
That amount for fire service would go up to about $375, the total tax bill itself. 00:35:24
We go to 1570. 00:35:29
The next. 00:35:34
2 pages are for Georgetown Town if you live in the town of Georgetown. 00:35:35
The explanations are the same for those other items. The school. 00:35:39
You can see their current fire service because they're paying the Georgetown rate. Georgetown district rate for fire $62.00 and 00:35:42
129. 00:35:46
Then after the fire territory. 00:35:50
And for the $200,000 home again, like the Township. 00:35:52
180. 00:35:56
Towards fire service. 00:35:57
Pre territory in roughly 375 after. 00:35:59
For New Albany Township. 00:36:04
They are currently paying about 50 on a hundred $100,000 home. That bill is generating about $55 in revenue. 00:36:07
For the fire district. 00:36:13
Than for the territory after in 2026 would be about 128. 00:36:15
And then for the $200,000 home in the Township. 00:36:20
Their current bill in 25 would be about $162.00 for fire service and then roughly 375. 00:36:24
For the territory. 00:36:29
And then the following. 00:36:33
3 pages just give more examples of different potential property tax impacts. 00:36:34
So again, the first one is Georgetown Township. So if you don't have $100,000 home, if your home is maybe closer to $200,000. 00:36:39
The first block. 00:36:47
There at the top of the page and page 20. 00:36:48
Is other values of the 1% tax cap homes. 1% tax cap homes are your your primary residence. 00:36:50
So if you have $200,000 home like on that. 00:36:57
Previous example The bill is roughly. 00:37:00
1375 without the fire territory in the purple column. 00:37:02
That first kind of greenish column would be the first year of the territory that Bill would go up to. 00:37:07
Roughly $1570. That's a 14.2% increase. 00:37:12
That's equates to about $195 a year, or $16.00 a month. 00:37:17
I want to point out. 00:37:22
That 14.2% if you have a home or property value that is not falling into any of these Nice even round. 00:37:23
Examples that we're showing. 00:37:30
If you look at your. 00:37:32
2020. 00:37:34
You could use your 24 and get a rough idea your 2025 tax bill when you get it would be the one to use. 00:37:35
Multiply it times 1.142. 00:37:41
Or you're going to increase it by roughly 14.2%. 00:37:44
That would give you an idea for your individual property what your tax bill might look like. 00:37:48
If it's not going to fall into one of these, nice even. 00:37:52
Examples. 00:37:55
You can see the second year which is that orange column, kind of orangish column. 00:37:57
For the $200,000 home, the bill would end up around 1514 so. 00:38:00
About $5.00 a month. 00:38:05
And then that next, that third year is going to change less than a dollar a month. 00:38:07
It's not going to be. 00:38:11
A change at that point, the rate kind of flattens out after the second year. 00:38:12
We also show examples for farmland or other residential other residential meaning rentals. 00:38:17
If you have a second home. 00:38:23
In the district, something taxing district, something like that or? 00:38:25
Just plain egg or regular agricultural property. 00:38:28
Those types of properties do not have any of those. 00:38:31
Credits that I mentioned earlier, not the Homestead credit or the supplemental credit. 00:38:36
They are taxed at full value. 00:38:40
So if you have a. 00:38:42
$50,000 Piece of agricultural property or second. 00:38:44
Home. 00:38:47
The the cap on that bill. 00:38:48
Would be at 2%. 00:38:51
So 2% of $50,000. 00:38:53
Excuse me? 00:38:56
Or $1000. 00:38:57
In this case, your bill would be roughly 807 before the tax cap, before the fire territory. I'm sorry, 922 the first year of the 00:39:00
territory. 00:39:04
Than 889 or 888 the third year. 00:39:09
And those examples follow that same logic. 00:39:12
All the way down. 00:39:15
The third type of property we're showing here is commercial, like a business. 00:39:16
Whether that's an industry like a factory or a shop or a store or a home business. 00:39:20
This commercial and personal properties 3% tax cap. 00:39:25
And they are again like this 2% taxed at full value. 00:39:28
So if you have a $250,000 piece of commercial property. 00:39:31
Without the territory this coming year in 25. 00:39:35
Your bill is estimated. 00:39:38
At 4035 dollars. 00:39:40
With the territory it would be estimated at 4609 dollars. 00:39:42
That's roughly a 40, almost $48 a month change. 00:39:47
To that tax bill. 00:39:51
And then it sort of flattens out to 4444, maybe drops a little bit the second year. 00:39:52
4442, the third year again, those examples. 00:39:58
Are the same going on down into different types of? 00:40:03
Currently there are not. 00:40:06
Many properties in Georgetown Township. 00:40:08
District at the. 00:40:11
Their tax caps. 00:40:12
So until we get to quite a bit higher levels of. 00:40:14
The home, The residential properties. 00:40:17
We would not expect to see homes hitting the tax caps. 00:40:19
And then until that amount would be over 2 or. 00:40:22
Higher than $2.00 you would not see any of the farmland and it would take a rate of at least $3 for the commercial properties to 00:40:25
hit their tax cap values. 00:40:29
Georgetown Town. 00:40:34
Excuse me? 00:40:36
These are the same type of examples. 00:40:37
The $100,000. 00:40:40
Home in. 00:40:41
Georgetown Town. 00:40:43
The bill would go from roughly 550 to $617.00. That's a 12.2% increase. 00:40:44
Again, if you multiply, you live in Georgetown Town, you multiply your bill times. 00:40:50
That 1.122. 00:40:54
You're going to increase 12.2%. That would give you an idea of what your bill would look like if it doesn't fit into one of the 00:40:57
examples here. 00:41:00
And then for. 00:41:05
New Albany Township. 00:41:07
The increase to those tax bills would be roughly 15.6%. 00:41:08
So. 00:41:13
The $200,000, that equates to $200,000 home. That equates to about $18.00 a month. 00:41:14
In addition. 00:41:22
Then if we look at farmland. 00:41:23
$100,000 piece of farmland. 00:41:26
Or at least second rental home. 00:41:28
The amount would increase by about $20.00 a month. Your tax bill between 25 and 26. 00:41:30
Than a $250,000 piece of property would increase roughly. 00:41:35
$52 a month in their tax bill from 4015 to 4641 for the first year of the territory. 00:41:39
And then accordingly on across for the other years. 00:41:46
Go ahead. Now we're to the section where we discuss other overlapping units in the county and how they may be affected. I'm not 00:41:52
sure if there's anyone here from the school or the county. 00:41:56
Tonight, but we will talk about that and how they'll be affected. 00:42:01
This first page covers some of what I just talked about as far as property tax caps. 00:42:05
All properties in Indiana fall into one of these 3 Cal. 00:42:09
Classifications and the bill is capped. 00:42:12
You can pay based upon. 00:42:15
Your gross assessed value. 00:42:17
And this is written into our Constitution. It's likely not going to change anytime in the near future. 00:42:19
So the example is. 00:42:25
For that 1%. 00:42:26
Up Homestead property. 00:42:29
Your bill, your tax bill cannot be more than 1% of the gross assessed value. 00:42:31
So if the rate is such that it were to calculate out higher. 00:42:36
Then in this case it would be $1000. So if your bill came out at 1200 dollars. 00:42:39
The homeowner just does not pay that $200 above the cap. 00:42:44
And the units in the county do not receive it. That becomes what we call circuit breaker loss. 00:42:49
As I mentioned in the county. 00:42:53
There are some places where units are not at circuit break. 00:42:56
Or lost. Yet they're they're. 00:42:59
Rate is such that their homes values have not been pushed to their caps. 00:43:00
So similarly with an agricultural unit, you have that 2%. 00:43:04
So on a $100,000 property. 00:43:08
The maximum bill would be 2000. If it came out to 2100, that $100 just would not be collected. 00:43:11
And it would be considered circuit breaker loss to the overlapping units. 00:43:18
So the next. 00:43:22
Slide tries to show or attempts to show what we would expect would happen to circuit breaker. 00:43:24
Within the county. 00:43:30
In Floyd County, what happens? What occurs with one unit? 00:43:32
Will. 00:43:35
Virtually all other units in the county. 00:43:37
So for Floyd County. 00:43:40
We estimate in 2026 if there was number fire territory. 00:43:41
They would have roughly $516,000 in circuit breaker loss and that's spread across all of their property tax funds. 00:43:45
It goes to their. 00:43:52
General fund, their Cumbridge fund, if they have a park fund or a health fund. 00:43:53
That $516 in loss is spread across all those funds. 00:43:58
With the fire territory. 00:44:03
We estimate it would be about $527,000 the first year. 00:44:05
Roughly 584,000 the second year. 00:44:10
In about 580,000 the third year. 00:44:14
So that's an increase maybe around that second year of about $50,000 more in loss to the county. 00:44:17
Some of these other units that we have listed here only have what we call over 65 loss. 00:44:23
Those are credits that go to individuals that are over age 65. 00:44:29
Whose properties are of a certain value that are within certain income limits that have gone to the county and. 00:44:33
And file for this exemption. 00:44:38
So those exemptions are not calculated in our example. 00:44:40
Because they are very specific on a specific home, they're they are not an across the board type of estimate. So we can't include 00:44:43
those, but we try to save where we're. 00:44:48
We're not putting those ends. For example, Franklin Township I believe only had the over 65 loss. They didn't have any properties 00:44:53
that were hitting. 00:44:57
The credit, the tax credits for them. 00:45:01
So they weren't losing because of that, they're losing only because of the over 65 credit. 00:45:04
So below we show for Georgetown District. 00:45:09
Of course they're. 00:45:12
They're going to lose their current operating levy and their current. 00:45:13
Capital Levy. 00:45:17
It'll all be shifted towards the. 00:45:18
The territory. 00:45:20
And then New Albany will have that one small levy left for debt service. 00:45:22
But debt service does not receive. 00:45:27
Regular. 00:45:29
Circuit breaker loss. 00:45:30
It only has the over 65 loss attached to it. 00:45:32
So you see what the circuit breaker would be, Roughly 4. 00:45:36
The territory about 9 almost $10,000 the first year. 00:45:40
And then? 00:45:45
About around $2000 a second. About 1500, the third year. 00:45:45
The next thing we'll talk about is local income tax. 00:45:51
Local income tax or taxes on your payroll? 00:45:54
Your adjusted gross income. 00:45:57
So wherever you work. 00:45:59
Your HR people are taking money out of your taxes based upon the county you live in. 00:46:00
So if you. 00:46:06
Live in Floyd but work in Clark County. 00:46:07
Your money comes back. Your local income tax money comes back to Floyd County with you. 00:46:10
If someone works here but lives in Clark. 00:46:14
Their local income tax money goes back to Clark County. 00:46:17
So every county has different rates of local income tax, and it's up to the local counties which kinds they collect and at which 00:46:20
rates. 00:46:24
It's currently Floyd County has something called certified chairs. 00:46:28
That is. 00:46:32
A general purpose type of local income tax that usually goes into the general fund. 00:46:33
That that is at 3/4 of a percent. 00:46:37
They have a newly adopted public safety. 00:46:41
Which is at half a percent. 00:46:43
They have an economic development lit which is at. 00:46:45
3/10 of a percent. 00:46:47
Correctional facilities lit which is for. 00:46:49
Jail services. 00:46:52
They have something called property tax relief. 00:46:53
Which is 1/10 of a percent. That is to help alleviate the effects of circuit breaker for all of the taxing units in the county. 00:46:56
And they have a judicial systems lit at 41 hundredths of a percent. 00:47:03
Now the. 00:47:07
Certified chairs, Public safety and economic development are distributed amongst various units. 00:47:08
The certified shares goes to the county, the municipalities, the townships and currently the fire districts. Public safety only 00:47:14
goes to the county. 00:47:19
And the municipal units. 00:47:23
Economic development. 00:47:26
Only goes to the county and the municipal units. 00:47:27
Correctional Facility goes straight to the county. 00:47:30
Judicial system goes straight to the county. 00:47:33
And then property tax relief is spread amongst all units in the county. 00:47:36
On a per tax bill basis. 00:47:41
So the next slide shows what we expect to happen to local income tax because of the FIRE territory. 00:47:45
There is a stipulation in the legislation that allows. 00:47:50
For the participants of this fire territory. 00:47:54
To receive. 00:47:57
Portions of local income tax. The territory does not itself receive any local income tax. 00:47:59
So in this case. 00:48:05
And it's done based upon relative proportion of levy. 00:48:06
So if currently, for example, we'll just use Floyd County as an example, if the county had. 00:48:10
25% of all the levies in the county as a whole. 00:48:15
They would receive 25% of the certified chairs local income tax. 00:48:18
So in this case. 00:48:24
If we add levy because of the fire territory, it can change that shifting allocation. 00:48:26
So in this case it looks like. 00:48:33
It's always happens a year behind as well, so if the territory takes place in 26, it's not going to affect local income tax until 00:48:35
2027. 00:48:38
So we inserted a change column here to show we would anticipate the app because of the first year of the territory. 00:48:43
In 2027, the county could expect to lose roughly $317.00 in local income tax, we believe. 00:48:50
We've not been able. 00:48:58
To get clear answers from the Department of Local Government Finance on this. 00:48:59
But we believe that. 00:49:03
Potentially. 00:49:05
The districts will continue to receive the local income tax they do already. 00:49:06
And if that's the case, because of their participation in the fire territory, a portion of it could shift to them from other 00:49:10
units. 00:49:14
So that we. 00:49:19
See some change then through 27 and 28 to other overlapping units. 00:49:20
The lines there in Orange are what we are estimating for the fire territory, the participating units of the territory. 00:49:25
Again, as Michael explained, they would use that money to replace the property tax potentially if that is how things continue to 00:49:32
work. This is sort of a new situation. We don't have other districts in the state. 00:49:38
That have combined to form a territory. 00:49:43
So I think that's why the DLGF did not initially answer or could not answer our question. 00:49:45
So the next. 00:49:50
Type of income is local public safety income tax. Because of the territory, there would be no effect here unless. 00:49:51
The county were to choose to give a portion of the public safety to. 00:49:59
The fire territory or other fire. 00:50:04
Service providers in the county. 00:50:06
There's no requirement that they do that. 00:50:08
And none of the units taking part currently receive public safety. So we wouldn't anticipate a change in either that or the 00:50:10
economic development lit on the next page because like I said, that's only the county. 00:50:15
And the municipal units. 00:50:21
Fire districts and our territories are not considered. 00:50:22
In the this. 00:50:25
Distribution of those types of local income tax. 00:50:27
The third kind is the vehicle excise tax, the one I just spoke about earlier that you pay when you go to put what plates on your 00:50:30
vehicles. 00:50:33
So in this case it is again like the local income tax allocated based upon proportion of levy. 00:50:37
So if we're increasing levy to the fire territory. 00:50:43
It's possible that they could receive a larger share. 00:50:47
Than in some other units in the county could potentially lose. 00:50:50
For example, we're showing the county line at the top. 00:50:53
They get roughly without the fire territory, about 1,024,000. 00:50:56
With the territory, we're estimating about 1,013,000, that's roughly $11,000. 00:51:01
Less in revenue for the county. 00:51:06
But we are holding these amounts total amounts equal. So all things. 00:51:09
If things change. 00:51:13
There it could potentially be the county may not see a difference at all. 00:51:14
Because if those amounts. 00:51:18
To allocate increase. 00:51:19
They could maintain the current amount that they receive. 00:51:21
Like I said, the territory will specifically receive. 00:51:24
The excise tax because it receives property tax. 00:51:28
So that. 00:51:32
Includes my part of the financial presentation if anyone has questions. 00:51:33
Turn this around if you make comments. Yes Sir. 00:51:39
Why don't you come up to the podium? 00:51:42
Rob Puff, Georgetown. 00:51:51
I'm not a tax expert by any means. 00:51:53
When Fire Protection goes up, what does that do to the property tax bill? Does that increase your property tax bill? 00:51:56
In turn when you have more Fire Protection. 00:52:02
Yeah, that was what I tried to explain. 00:52:05
So I understand this part of this and this is what it would be. 00:52:30
I understand. I understand that. 00:52:33
It will be held for future years past. 00:52:36
26 It is held to whatever the statewide levy group. 00:52:48
So if the county will be. 00:52:52
0% Loading growth 61 percent 27%. 00:52:59
So we can never go. 00:53:04
Increase any greater than any. 00:53:07
I think. I think what he's asking is a question. 00:53:14
Higher rates on insurance. 00:53:18
Yeah, I mean there there's a formula upon which and the and the chief here in the room or the other. 00:53:20
Command staff would be better suited to serve that. 00:53:26
There are a lot of things that can impact your homeowners insurance. 00:53:30
For example, how close you are to a hydrant. 00:53:34
Do you have a hydrant nearby? 00:53:37
So, umm. 00:53:39
Our expectation is that. 00:53:40
Will continue to provide a high level professional Fire Protection service for the community. 00:53:42
And the only impact it would have on your. 00:53:47
Omar's insurance or your property value? It should be. 00:53:49
I can't quantify it though. And give you a number, sure. 00:53:53
But I don't see how it's going to hurt. 00:53:56
Let's put it that way. What would increase the value of my home? 00:53:58
Well, it's a. It's a broad. 00:54:02
The home will that increase the by the property tax that I have to pay again? 00:54:04
I think I understand what you're saying I. 00:54:09
I don't know that. 00:54:12
We can quantify that. 00:54:13
If a property value increases year over year. 00:54:17
What percentage of that was because more people want to live in the community? 00:54:20
Was it because they've got good Fire Protection or police, or the roads don't have potholes? 00:54:24
I'm not sure that I can really answer that question. 00:54:30
OK. Thank you. 00:54:33
Before I get ahead of myself, I'm sorry. 00:54:45
Is that are you wanting to ask questions specifically of Susan and her presentation? 00:54:47
Well, I have several questions before you start. 00:54:52
So we're not at the public comment section, but it was just if Susan had some comments. 00:54:56
Or questions for her and her expertise. OK, we'd let those get asked, but for. 00:55:02
Public comment if you could hold it just a few minutes. I can't. 00:55:07
I'm sorry. 00:55:10
For the confusion. 00:55:11
Real quick. 00:55:13
Troy, pivot to Keith and then we'll have public comment up, up. 00:55:14
Opportunity. This is just kind of a summary of what we are proposing. 00:55:19
The fire territory, we're asking the community for roughly 19 percent increase in funding. 00:55:24
But for that 19% increase in funding. 00:55:29
We're going to increase from three to four fire stations, which is a 33% increase. 00:55:32
We're going to increase staffing of actual firefighters. 00:55:37
Fighting fires. 00:55:41
50%. 00:55:43
So it's important to understand why we're doing what we're doing and what we're asking. 00:55:46
So I'm going to go ahead and. 00:55:51
Turn it over to Keith. 00:55:53
Hello, my my name is Keith Pulliam. I'm an attorney with stalking in Ogden. 00:56:02
And the attorney for the Georgetown Township Fire District in April, Galt Maker, is here. 00:56:07
As the attorney on behalf of the New Albany Township Fire Protection District. 00:56:12
I'm going to speak very briefly because most of what I say will have already been presented and discussed here. You've already 00:56:17
heard it from both of these presentations. 00:56:22
But again. 00:56:26
Purpose of what? 00:56:27
We are here tonight to discuss is the establishment of the Fire Protection District, which would become known as the Floyd County 00:56:29
Fire Territory. 00:56:32
And the two participants of that will be the two fire districts that you've already heard from. 00:56:36
Again, the legal basis for this is a particular set of statutes in the chapter known as the Fire Territory Fire Protection 00:56:42
Territory Statute. 00:56:46
And they really require that the two of them be contiguous. 00:56:50
Meaning you know which they are next to each other. 00:56:54
And what the other purpose that's been discussed for tonight already is what's called the equipment replacement fund. 00:56:57
The best way I describe that is both of the districts now currently have what's called a cumulative fund. 00:57:03
For their CapEx expenses? 00:57:09
And the the. 00:57:11
Equipment replacement fund is more or less the counterpart that would replace those two cumulative funds. So those would go away 00:57:13
and they would be replaced by the. 00:57:17
Equipment replacement fund. 00:57:23
So just to understand how the mechanics work. 00:57:24
After the three public hearings at the 4th. 00:57:28
Date which I believe is set for the 21st. 00:57:31
The two fire district boards would consider the adoption, potentially of identical resolutions. 00:57:34
The resolutions would. 00:57:39
Form the district again. 00:57:41
Creating. 00:57:44
I'm sorry form the territory. 00:57:45
Known as the Floyd County Fire Territory established the boundaries which would be both district boundaries. 00:57:47
Established that both participants are participating units. 00:57:54
And that Georgetown Township Fire Protection District will be the provider unit. 00:57:58
It would also establish the uniform property tax rate, which you've heard quite a bit about. 00:58:03
And it would create an operating fund which would replace the two funds that are currently in place, called the Special General 00:58:09
Fire Fund for each district. 00:58:14
The budget moving forward would be determined by Georgetown Township Fire Protection District with assistance from New Albany 00:58:20
Township Fire Protection District. 00:58:24
And the you heard about the equipment replacement fund, it would have a separate levy. 00:58:29
Much like the QM funds do now. 00:58:35
And that would just be a separate fund? 00:58:38
The resolution would create a joint executive board. 00:58:41
And that would be the Board for administrative planning and operating. 00:58:45
Of the budget. 00:58:50
Portion umm. 00:58:52
The if you think about it, we're not creating again, you're not creating a new entity. You're just having the two fire districts 00:58:53
come together. 00:58:57
They're signing a cooperation agreement in between the two of them. 00:59:01
For Georgetown to act as the operating agency. 00:59:05
With New Albany Township acting as a participant. 00:59:09
And that board would be comprised. 00:59:13
Very equal A2 four person board. 00:59:17
With two trustees or two members of that board from each. 00:59:20
District. 00:59:25
So each year they would annually work together. 00:59:26
Based upon a recommendation from the provider unit. 00:59:29
To establish the budget and go through the normal budget process. 00:59:33
The uh. 00:59:36
The territory would presume to take over the enforcing agency for Co compliance and I believe you heard of a discussion earlier 00:59:38
about that. 00:59:42
The the two districts, the resolutions would call for them to contribute their cash. 00:59:48
To to go towards the. 00:59:54
There will be this period of time in which they. 00:59:58
Exists, but then the levy won't come in until 26, so they will contribute their cash. There might be a $50,000 reserve for some. 01:00:01
Expenses, but short of that, it'll all be contributed towards the fire territory. 01:00:10
And the each district would. 01:00:15
Contribute use of its apparatus, equipment, firehouses, things like that, but would retain title. 01:00:18
So they're not transferring title to a territory. 01:00:26
Again, the territory is just the cooperative. 01:00:30
Agreement between the two. 01:00:33
And, you know, if there were to be a withdrawal from the territory by one of the two parties and there's a mechanism within the 01:00:35
interlocal agreement that just says that the parties would. 01:00:40
Then back out, keep their respective properties and we'd have some pro rata. 01:00:47
Allocation of expenses or equity. 01:00:53
And I think that probably covers. 01:00:56
Thank you, Keith. OK. As we described earlier, the process that we're going to run the meeting tonight. 01:01:02
At this point, are there any board comments or discussion? 01:01:08
OK, then we'll open it up for public comment. 01:01:13
On the way that we've done this and it's worked pretty well is. 01:01:16
If you'll please come up to the podium and sign in. 01:01:19
We'll have a three minute period where everybody has an opportunity to talk. I'll let you know if you're getting close to that, 01:01:21
but I won't start the timer until you've actually signed in, so you don't have to worry about talking and writing at the same 01:01:25
time. 01:01:28
If everybody has an opportunity to speak and somebody wants to speak again, we'll be happy to have you come up. 01:01:32
And. 01:01:38
We now are ready to hear. 01:01:39
This is a question and answer session. 01:01:42
We're receiving public comments. 01:01:44
Will you answer questions? 01:01:47
If we can. 01:01:50
But what we've done in the past, just so you know, as we received questions at each of our meetings. 01:01:51
And then we've incorporated that into the presentations or we've followed up with individuals. 01:01:56
We may not have the answer right now, so. 01:02:01
If you would like to step up, we ask that you please use the microphone because people online cannot hear you. 01:02:03
If you're not speaking into the microphone. 01:02:09
And I'm sorry, after you sign and if you do, introduce yourself. 01:02:32
And where you live? 01:02:35
I'm Denise Conkle. I live at 8855 Highland Lake Drive in Georgetown. 01:02:43
And I'm on the County Council. 01:02:49
So I have several questions actually. 01:02:52
That I was wanting to ask. 01:02:57
The first one is umm umm. 01:03:00
Does the commissioners have to approve the fire territory? 01:03:03
No. 01:03:06
Then my second question is, is. 01:03:09
Does the County Council have to approve? 01:03:12
The Fire Territory budget. 01:03:15
As it did. 01:03:17
The fire district. 01:03:19
Budget. 01:03:20
So the answer to that question. 01:03:23
I don't, I don't know that I can give you an exact answer, but what would what we would envision would be that? 01:03:26
We will work with DLGF to establish the initial budget. 01:03:32
And then through the annual budgetary process instead of seeing 2 separate budgets for the different districts. 01:03:35
You will see one presentation from Georgetown. 01:03:42
In which they will have a line item for the fire territory and it will be within that budget and that will. 01:03:45
So we will be approving the right. 01:03:51
We will be approving the budget and then. 01:03:53
The rate that goes with that budget. 01:03:57
I think what the? 01:03:59
County it will be a normal process in which we process is that the dish, we the budget. 01:04:00
The district comes before. 01:04:07
The Council. 01:04:09
To have the budget approved. 01:04:11
And. 01:04:13
Along with that, the right. 01:04:16
Well, the DOG I think will set the initial budget. 01:04:20
OK. And then in the annual process like it is transpired in the past we believe? 01:04:23
That it will be part of Georgetown's budget which will come before the Council. So my question then becomes. 01:04:30
How can an appointed? 01:04:37
Bored. 01:04:39
Approve a tax levy. 01:04:42
Get a tax levy without going through. 01:04:44
And an elected official that seems like. 01:04:48
Taxation without representation to me. 01:04:51
It has to be approved. 01:04:55
At some point by elected officials, the way the statutes written is the process that we're following. 01:04:57
And the way that. 01:05:03
I look at it because I had that question myself. 01:05:05
Each one of the board members here is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the county commissioners. I understand that, but 01:05:08
you're not an elected official. 01:05:11
So when do? When is? 01:05:15
The taxpayers don't have a say. 01:05:17
And really, who's being? 01:05:20
Who is a? 01:05:24
Who is assigning the taxes? 01:05:28
That they're they're being asked to pay. 01:05:30
We'll come up in 3 minutes. My my my observation. I'm not sure that's true. 01:05:33
I'm just. 01:05:39
Wondering how that could possibly be? 01:05:41
Can I pause you? It's 3 minutes if you want to come back up. I'm sorry. 01:05:45
Oh, we're already at 3 minutes. 01:05:49
OK. 01:05:52
Thank you. 01:05:54
Hey, guys. 01:06:23
Ladies Dale Man, Georgetown Township. 01:06:25
I don't have a lot to say like you've done. Heard what I thought about this for a while. 01:06:29
I do have a question. 01:06:33
For Mr. Moore, you said Georgetown's levies never went up since 07:00. 01:06:35
Is that correct? Their tax levy? 01:06:39
We've never asked to increase the tax levy. 01:06:42
OK. The rate? 01:06:45
But it sounds like but your budgets always went up and you always got more money every year right from reassessments. 01:06:46
It sounds like you're working with the same money and everybody knows you can. 01:06:53
You're having, you're getting. 01:06:57
Georgetown has got more money. It takes more. 01:06:58
But the way you stayed is like. 01:07:01
We get we're living on the same levy for. 01:07:03
What, 15 years? 01:07:05
The rate has decreased. 01:07:08
We have not asked for an increase in the levy. 01:07:11
The revenue that we. 01:07:15
Collect in order to do the work that is done has increased annually because of. 01:07:18
The statewide. 01:07:23
And I'm sorry it's my area of expertise, but. 01:07:26
The growth factor. 01:07:29
I understand that, but the way you present it when the levy has never been increased or haven't asked for anything. 01:07:31
Like you're living the same money. I'm sitting up to listen. I just wanted to bring that up. 01:07:36
And another thing was asked for me. 01:07:40
Doesn't the insurance pay the fire department anything for coming? 01:07:43
That's not on the budget. I've seen it nowhere. 01:07:47
They reimbursed ********. 01:07:49
No, historically we do not file insurance claims. 01:07:52
Every time I've seen a fire, the insurance company pays fire department some way or another. 01:07:56
No. 01:08:00
You know, if you've seen it, I'm not arguing with you, I'm just saying I've been involved in. 01:08:02
Fire department in Georgetown almost 25 years. I know my dad's barn. Barn and Farm Bureau give him 5. 01:08:06
I know that that's been a few years ago and Georgetown responded to that part. 01:08:12
I've seen that, Jack. 01:08:15
And was that a volunteer department? 01:08:17
That was probably went up. 01:08:20
Well, I can't answer that. I can't and I'm making eye contact with command staff behind you. 01:08:21
The only time that we have. 01:08:28
No, we've never gotten an insurance payment responding to. 01:08:30
Maybe it was long term, Sorry. 01:08:33
And another question like I appreciate Denise Copper for asking. 01:08:35
That question she should be asking. 01:08:40
Because she is right. 01:08:42
In nursing. 01:08:44
I still see where Georgetown residents benefit nothing. 01:08:46
For getting their taxes for Fire Protection district over. 01:08:50
I see no protection. 01:08:54
Benefit to the Georgetown Township? None. 01:08:56
Thank you. 01:09:00
Thank you. 01:09:01
Well. 01:09:13
Yeah, I don't think they're going to be very many people, so we'll get back to you. 01:09:14
Robloff, Georgetown. 01:09:33
First of all, I want to thank you all for everything that you guys do. 01:09:36
I'm glad that you guys are the first people that we call when we need. 01:09:39
Assistance and probably people's worst day of their lives. 01:09:43
I'm glad that you guys are the the highest trained in the county. 01:09:47
I I really appreciate that, so please do not take offense. 01:09:51
To my questions. 01:09:55
I just want. 01:09:56
Questions answered, I've asked my Commissioner. 01:09:57
And he told me to bring these questions to you guys. 01:10:00
I when station 1. 01:10:05
Was not fully staffed. 01:10:08
And then we fully staffed them, I think you said in 2022. 01:10:09
Where did those funds come from? Where did it come from? A surplus? 01:10:13
We had. 01:10:16
And. 01:10:18
Mr. Sharp last meeting said that a new fire engine was purchased with cash. Is that also from the surplus? 01:10:20
And the renovations to Station 1 and Station two were from the surplus as well. 01:10:28
So in the past. 01:10:33
Three years we've been operating off of that surplus, taking funds away from that. 01:10:34
At what point? 01:10:38
Did somebody say we should probably start to replenish this surplus? 01:10:40
Rather than wait till it's completely. 01:10:45
Depleted. 01:10:47
Was there ever a conversation I've not heard any public comment about? 01:10:51
Yes, it was an intentional plan. 01:10:55
To begin to spend down the surplus. 01:10:57
That we had. 01:11:01
And. 01:11:02
We did that so that we could provide more Fire Protection in the community. 01:11:03
OK. Also recognizing that it's not sustainable. 01:11:07
So. 01:11:11
There would be a next step. 01:11:12
After we started that and. 01:11:14
In order to address that revenue imbalance. 01:11:15
And that's. 01:11:19
This is the solution that we have decided is the best way to handle that. 01:11:20
But you're correct. 01:11:24
At Georgetown. 01:11:26
We've bought actually. 01:11:27
At least 2 fire engines. 01:11:28
Paid cash for them so there's no debt added back to the community. 01:11:30
And we've done both station renovations over the last. 01:11:35
7-8 years. 01:11:39
And that also was paid for with. 01:11:41
Cash. We did not take on debt in order to accomplish that. 01:11:43
A little earlier. 01:11:47
Renovation. 01:11:48
My next question would be how did we? 01:11:52
Get such a large surplus if we're operating 2 fire stations. 01:11:54
Fully staffed. 01:11:59
Were we not already taxed enough? Is that what the surplus came from? 01:12:01
Now it was long term planning that we were. 01:12:04
Not spending every time we got. 01:12:07
And it was done intentionally so that we could take some of those large capital projects on. 01:12:09
Without having to go back to the community. 01:12:14
And ask for more money. 01:12:16
But we could not staff both stations and pay for it. 01:12:18
It's the same problem that New Albany Township Fire District has. They have enough revenue to staff one station. 01:12:21
They can't staff a second station under the district revenue model. 01:12:27
OK. I'm sorry you're coming up on three minutes if. 01:12:31
OK. 01:12:35
So. 01:12:37
In Georgetown, how many? 01:12:38
New firefighters are going to be increased. I couldn't. 01:12:40
Didn't get any clarity from that, would it be? 01:12:44
Two extra per shift or would it be one extra per shift or how does that work? Right now the plan is that we would have a training 01:12:46
officer. 01:12:50
Fire Marshall. 01:12:54
And we already. 01:12:56
Jump started the process we hired. 01:12:59
3 firefighters this past year. 01:13:01
OK. 01:13:04
I'll wait till. 01:13:06
My next 3 minutes. 01:13:07
That's the next step. Thank you. Thank you. 01:13:09
So I had I had some further questions, but I'm going to. 01:13:23
Sort of piggyback on to. 01:13:28
The questions that were just to ask says. 01:13:30
I wrote something today. The Georgetown Fire Department has used over $1,000,000 in cash on hand over the last few years. 01:13:34
For operating costs and has passed. 01:13:41
Up the opportunity to increase increase their Max levy. 01:13:44
And now they're in a situation where they must. 01:13:49
Form either a territory. 01:13:52
Or I don't think there's any way for you to stain. 01:13:55
Through 2026 and 2027. Is that true? 01:13:59
Current revenue imbalance because you had the opportunity last year and at budget time when you came in front of the Council. 01:14:03
We ask specifically. 01:14:12
Why aren't you raising your Max levy? 01:14:15
Amount so that you can get more tax revenues without. 01:14:18
Creating a fire territory with staying with the district, the other two fire districts. 01:14:23
Took that opportunity to do that now they didn't raise their rates to the Max. 01:14:29
But they took the opportunity to raise their Max levy. 01:14:34
Amount. 01:14:37
So that they had the opportunity to do that and you guys did not do that. 01:14:38
Why not? 01:14:43
Because we did not need the money. 01:14:44
But you didn't need the money? No, we had a big plan. 01:14:47
And we were working on it. 01:14:50
We have. 01:14:51
Earlier tonight we had a board meeting. We approved that we're going to file the 10 year population growth levy. 01:14:53
Increase. 01:14:58
But that would not be effective until 2026. 01:14:59
And that is a backstop if for some reason the fire territory doesn't come to creation. 01:15:03
But that amount of revenue does not solve the revenue imbalance. 01:15:09
It's not enough. 01:15:13
I'd like to see those numbers because my second question then is what are the other options that are being looked at? 01:15:16
We've heard that. 01:15:22
Most of the constituents that I talked to do not want this. 01:15:23
They feel like the Georgetown has. 01:15:29
The fire coverage that they need. 01:15:32
And I understand that you have a revenue problem. 01:15:34
But I'd like to see what the revenue problem is and is. Are there other ways to go about doing this without creating a fire 01:15:37
territory? 01:15:42
This is a MoneyGram. 01:15:46
And the Council just passed. 01:15:49
The largest tax increase in Floyd County history, and now on the backs on the heels of that. 01:15:52
Here we come again. 01:15:59
And we're raising taxes again. 01:16:00
I'm telling you, if this goes in front of the County Council. 01:16:02
I will not vote. 01:16:05
For this, I will not vote for the raid. I will not vote for the budget. 01:16:07
We have to live within our means and their rights. I've got. I haven't seen any other plan presented. 01:16:11
Besides this one. 01:16:16
It's a huge plan. 01:16:18
And maybe there are there ways to umm. 01:16:21
To to put the phase this in without doubling the tax fire tax. 01:16:25
In one year. 01:16:33
I don't know. We haven't heard any other options. This is the only option we've heard. 01:16:35
3 minutes or 11? 01:16:40
OK. 01:16:42
So in Georgetown. 01:16:58
You said that we made 1100. 01:17:00
Runs. 01:17:03
And God forbid that increases. But with the population growth that Georgetown is having, it's. 01:17:05
The nature of it is going to increase. 01:17:11
So I'm a simple math guy. I'm not a mathematician by any means, so. 01:17:13
Say it increases 10%. 01:17:18
And goes to 1200 calls per year. 01:17:20
If everybody here can get out their calculator 1200 / 365. 01:17:24
Is 3.22 per day between two houses. 01:17:29
That's 1.6 runs per day. 01:17:33
Per Firehouse. 01:17:36
And of those runs. 01:17:38
Is there a breakdown between the medical? 01:17:39
Automobile. 01:17:42
An actual structure fires. 01:17:43
How many of those are actual structure fires versus medical calls versus automobile calls? That information is available on our 01:17:46
website. 01:17:50
We have a Chiefs report. 01:17:54
That is presented to the board every month. 01:17:56
And then is attached to the meeting minutes. 01:17:59
And it breaks down a lot of that data that you're asking about. 01:18:01
If you can't find it, if you want to come talk to me, I'll be happy to show you where. Yeah, I would like. I would love that. 01:18:04
And being that we are so close to the Franklin Township and Highlander. 01:18:10
Will we be providing mutual aid to those areas and are those mutual aid calls factored into that 1100? 01:18:16
Yes. 01:18:23
So how many actual calls within the Georgetown? 01:18:24
Township, Georgetown Town. 01:18:28
Were there without. 01:18:30
Factoring in the mutual. 01:18:32
I can't answer that question, but it's all documented in the Chiefs report. 01:18:34
OK. 01:18:37
The next question is why would the tax burden be placed on Georgetown? 01:18:39
If we are doing mutual aid calls to other townships who are not. 01:18:43
Paying higher property taxes? That does not seem. 01:18:47
Fair. 01:18:52
And I don't want anybody to get hurt. I don't want anybody to be unprotected. 01:18:54
But if we're paying higher taxes to cover people who don't want to be a part of this plan. 01:18:58
We should not be offering mutual aid to those districts. 01:19:02
What is the penalty for not meeting the NFPA standard? 01:19:11
It's a standard, not a regulation. 01:19:15
OK, so there's there's no penalty. 01:19:17
There's no penalty unless something goes wrong, somebody gets hurt. 01:19:20
And, and God forbid something happens to you guys, I. 01:19:24
We don't want that, right? 01:19:27
We're this a very small Township in the second smallest county. 01:19:29
In the state of Indiana. 01:19:33
I don't believe that we have any structures large enough other than the schools. 01:19:35
Which I would imagine every. 01:19:39
Department in the county would come to help out with that. 01:19:41
I don't see us needing. 01:19:44
To meet that NFPA standard in Georgetown. 01:19:46
Has seemed excessive. 01:19:49
Especially based off the number of calls that. 01:19:51
You guys carry on. 01:19:54
In addition to the mutual aid calls. 01:19:58
That just seems very excessive. 01:20:00
Hiring a full time training officer. 01:20:02
Who is doing the training now? 01:20:05
Honestly, there's a good questions. 01:20:08
This probably is not the best way to respond to all of them. 01:20:10
If you want to sit down and talk about it, be happy to. 01:20:13
Command staff also, we have an open door policy. Anybody in the community can come in and talk. 01:20:16
You're asking questions, but there actually are good reasons why the decisions that have been made have been put into. 01:20:21
Place and. 01:20:26
We can go back and forth for half an hour and talk about it, but I really think sitting down. 01:20:28
And asking the questions that the people that can answer and provide you that information. 01:20:33
Could that be recorded for? 01:20:38
For public knowledge? Or would that just be between you and I? 01:20:39
I don't have a problem with it being recorded. 01:20:43
We can figure that out if that's what you're in. 01:20:46
Interest is sure. I just want the the people of Georgetown and. 01:20:48
And everybody to to know what's really going on rather than. 01:20:52
There's half a dozen people in this room. 01:20:56
And the commissioners aren't in this room, so there's really no representation from our commissioners either. 01:20:59
So I would just. 01:21:04
You know, for my own personal sake in the my community, my neighbors, my family. 01:21:05
I think that we have a right to know the answers to this question, and just so you know that all three Commissioners were at the 01:21:10
last meeting. 01:21:13
As was I, yeah. 01:21:16
Thank you. You're welcome. 01:21:19
Dale Madigan, I want you to clarify something. 01:21:31
You said Georgetown. 01:21:33
Was getting two more. 01:21:35
Firefighters, no, I did not say that. 01:21:36
I think that's what you told me. Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking of something else. 01:21:39
One would be the Fire Marshall. 01:21:44
Another media trainer, Would they be full time at your channel? Are they going back and forth between them they would be 01:21:46
responsible for? 01:21:49
Their duties in the territory. 01:21:52
OK, then you can't say that. 01:21:53
George, I'm going to have two more firefighters. 01:21:55
Truthfully. 01:21:58
Right, that's a matter of opinion. 01:22:01
OK, we still have some work that we need to do this evening, so. 01:22:16
I'll take a motion that we close. 01:22:20
Motion. 01:22:25
Yeah, yeah, whatever. I mean, you can just close, OK, if there's no further comment and then we'll open the second public hearing. 01:22:26
Thank you. So at this point, we're going to close the public hearing. 01:22:33
And then we are going to open the public hearing for the equipment. 01:22:37
Replacement fund. 01:22:41
We don't have an additional. 01:22:46
Presentation. It's already been covered by what Susan talked about earlier. 01:22:48
But this is an opportunity of somebody in the public wants to. 01:22:54
Make a comment specifically about the equipment replacement fund. 01:22:57
This is the opportunity for that. 01:23:01
OK. So we'll close the public hearing on the equipment. 01:23:16
Placement Fund. 01:23:19
I'd like to thank everybody for coming out. 01:23:20
Appreciate your involvement. 01:23:22
And your questions? 01:23:24
If we didn't answer all of your questions, please let us know. 01:23:25
And we'll try and make sure that we get those answers to you. 01:23:28
Thank you. 01:23:31
Motion to adjourn. 01:23:34
Jeffrey. 01:23:37
Motion on our part. 01:23:39
Scott umm. 01:23:40
2nd. 01:23:41
Give we're closed. 01:23:43
Thank you. 01:23:44

Transcript

Event transcript
Public hearing #2 for the proposed fire territory. 00:00:00
Conversation ongoing between New Albany Township fire and Georgetown fire. 00:00:04
We'll first start off with a roll call. 00:00:10
My name is Kyle A new I'm the board president for New Albany Township. 00:00:13
Gibb Kinney, Treasurer. 00:00:18
Here, Scott Sears, secretary. 00:00:20
Ben Guite, board member. 00:00:25
I'll let the. 00:00:28
Record reflect that Chief is out of town doing training as well for leadership. 00:00:29
April Geltmacher is also present legal counsel. 00:00:36
This time we'll turn it over to you, Sir. 00:00:41
Thank you, Carl. My name is Michael Moody. I'm the chairman of the Georgetown Township Fire Protection District. 00:00:46
And for purposes of quorum. 00:00:51
Mr. David Fear. 00:00:54
Mr. Jeffrey McNulty. 00:00:59
Here, and we have, I think, technical issues resolved, Mr. Mark Ringenberg is. 00:01:00
Participating remotely. 00:01:07
But it's not counted as part of the quorum. 00:01:09
He's trying to get on teams if. 00:01:13
If he's able to. 00:01:15
And Mr. Travis Sharp is not here this evening. 00:01:17
So do phone prestige. 00:01:20
OK, Sir. 00:01:23
OK. 00:01:29
For both boards. 00:01:30
All right, for Georgetown, can I have a motion to open the public hearing? 00:01:31
Motion. 00:01:37
Thank you, Jeffrey. 2nd, 2nd. 00:01:38
OK. Thank you all in favor. 00:01:40
On behalf of New Albany Township, I'll take a motion to open the public hearing. 00:01:43
Got a motion from Mr. Gibb Kinney. 00:01:48
Take a second. 00:01:50
Ben Gupe will second that. 00:01:52
Motion carries. 00:01:54
OK. 00:01:57
And I do have confirmation Mr. Ringberg is watching, but he's not able to talk and we're we're not going to talk to Mark anyway to 00:02:00
try and keep this as simple as possible. 00:02:04
We'll wait for the presentation to come up. 00:02:12
While we're waiting a moment. 00:02:30
The way that we'll run this meeting is just like the last couple that we've held. 00:02:37
There will be a presentation with some. 00:02:41
Information on how we got where we are today. 00:02:43
And then we will have a presentation by Representative Baker Tilly. Miss Susan Cowan. 00:02:47
And then? 00:02:53
If there's any discussion amongst the board members. 00:02:54
Once that is all done, I'm sorry there also be a presentation by. 00:02:57
Mr. Keith Pulliam on the legal process. 00:03:01
Then we will open up for public comments. 00:03:04
We will turn that around so anybody that wishes to speak can come up. Please sign in. 00:03:07
We'll have 3 minutes for you to be able to speak. 00:03:13
I won't start the timer until you're done signing in, so you don't need to worry about rushing. 00:03:16
And if everybody has a chance to speak and somebody else wants to come back up and speak again, that's fine. We have had that 00:03:20
happen in the past. 00:03:23
We appreciate you taking time out of your schedule. We know everybody's busy. 00:03:27
And we hope that. 00:03:30
What we're going to present to you is educational. 00:03:32
So are we ready? 00:03:35
Excellent. 00:03:36
OK, so this presentation, as I said, is a little bit of the history and how we got to here. 00:03:40
Fire Protection service in this area was originally handled by all Volunteer Fire departments. 00:03:45
They did a really good job. 00:03:51
You probably know some of those people that did that. 00:03:53
But the volunteer model is no longer a viable option. 00:03:56
People do not live and work in the same area, so if you have something happened during the day when somebody's at work. 00:04:01
They're not able to respond. 00:04:06
Society is also busier and there's less ability to be a volunteer firefighter. 00:04:08
And really the clincher is? 00:04:12
That being a firefighter today is a lot different than it used to be 10/15/20 forty years ago. 00:04:15
The education requirements, the training requirements, the. 00:04:21
Equipment, uh. 00:04:25
So to address that. 00:04:26
To address that, the state created what is called a fire district. 00:04:29
It provided a revenue stream so that you could have professional Fire Protection service in your community. 00:04:34
But unfortunately, the revenue stream is not keeping up with the growth in our area. 00:04:41
And the model just is not working anymore. 00:04:47
So there is another entity created by the legislature. 00:04:51
And it has been updated recently. 00:04:55
It is a newer way to provide Fire Protection services. 00:04:57
And it's called a fire territory. 00:05:00
Two or more taxing units, either townships, municipalities or fire districts, can come together if they share a physical border. 00:05:02
And form a fire territory. 00:05:10
And there are some advantages between the fire territory and fire district model. One of them is that it consolidated fire 00:05:11
services. 00:05:15
So why create a fire territory? 00:05:20
It will better align Fire Protection with the community needs. 00:05:23
It will provide professional Fire Protection for southern New Albany Township. 00:05:27
And will increase Fire Protection for Georgetown and New Albany Township. 00:05:31
And. 00:05:35
Pressing for that is it addresses the revenue imbalance for the districts. 00:05:37
Because the current district model is not sustainable. 00:05:42
Fire territory will have one command structure. 00:05:49
It will increase efficiencies and training equipment. 00:05:52
Standard operating procedures. Human resources accounting. 00:05:55
And it will provide the revenue stream necessary to provide professional Fire Protection for our community. 00:05:58
So last year in the first quarter, Georgetown Fire was approached by Franklin Township. 00:06:07
About forming a fire territory. 00:06:11
In May last year, New Albany Township. 00:06:14
Said hey, we want to have this conversation with you also. 00:06:17
So Georgetown Fire contracted with Baker Tilly. 00:06:20
To calculate the impact to the community. 00:06:23
We received our first draft of that report last October. 00:06:25
That data has been presented to the public. 00:06:29
At four times prior to starting, the territory required public hearings. 00:06:32
So this is actually the sixth time. 00:06:38
That this information is being presented to the public. 00:06:41
State statute requires 3. 00:06:45
Meetings. 00:06:47
In mid January earlier this year, Franklin Township decided the timing wasn't right for them to participate and withdrew from the 00:06:50
project. 00:06:54
Georgetown Fire and New Albany Township Fire decided to continue. 00:06:58
We requested new data from Baker Tilley. 00:07:01
With just the two entities instead of the original 3. 00:07:04
And the name we are working with is the Floyd County Fire Territory. 00:07:08
And I've said this before publicly, I really appreciate the work Baker Tilly did. 00:07:12
In a last moment, coming up with all that new data. 00:07:16
The two districts have worked together to create a master plan for the new territory. 00:07:22
Georgetown Fire will beat the providing agency. 00:07:27
Chief Ned Weissman will be the chief of the territory. 00:07:30
Chief Tim Franklin will be the deputy chief of the territory. 00:07:33
All current firefighters of both districts will be employed by the department. 00:07:37
And the. 00:07:41
Labor agreement between local 5393 at Georgetown will be the control and document as far as the. 00:07:42
Labor agreement. 00:07:49
We are required by state statute between January 1st and March 31st this year. 00:07:52
To hold three public hearings to educate the community. 00:07:57
February 13th was our first. 00:08:01
February 27th Tonight is our second. 00:08:03
Our next one will be March 10th. 00:08:07
And it's going to be at Georgetown Station 2. 00:08:09
At 5:00 PM. 00:08:12
This room is not available. 00:08:14
So we had to pivot and we're going to hold it at Georgetown Fire Station 2 on Court and Ridge Rd. 00:08:16
Then a fourth. 00:08:21
Meeting will be an adoption hearing or meeting. 00:08:23
And that will be here, Pineview Government Center at 5:00 PM on March 21st. 00:08:26
I just want to take a moment. There's some. 00:08:32
Incorrect information being floated around in the industry. The reason why some of these states changed. 00:08:34
The Commissioners earlier this year. 00:08:41
Change the oversight of the fire district boards. 00:08:43
This board and this board had nothing to do with it. 00:08:47
It was completely within the commissioners purview that they. 00:08:50
Made a change and what they did is they wanted to streamline the boards a little bit. 00:08:54
So all the boards now have 5 board members. 00:08:57
We didn't suggest a number. We didn't suggest people. 00:09:01
This was completely done by the Commissioners. 00:09:04
And some people are unfortunately saying some things that are not accurate. 00:09:07
But that is what happened. It had nothing to do with the fire territory discussion. 00:09:11
There are three fire districts currently in the community. 00:09:16
All three of them had their boards. 00:09:19
Change to five members. 00:09:21
Highlander has five members now, and they're not part of this discussion here today. 00:09:23
So any attempt to say that changing the board members had something to do with the fire territory? 00:09:28
They're two separate issues. They have nothing to do with each other. 00:09:33
And then just finishing up. 00:09:37
After going through the process and working with the DLGF. 00:09:42
Over the summer. 00:09:45
The plan would be the January 1st, 2026 the new territory would take effect. 00:09:46
I want to show some data from. 00:09:52
Georgetown Fire. 00:09:55
To illustrate. 00:09:56
How we got where we are today. 00:09:58
This is. 00:10:00
A look back of the tax impact to the community since the formation of the fire district nearly 20 years ago in 2007. 00:10:01
Taking a closer look. 00:10:09
I'm sorry, I forgot to hit the buttons. 00:10:10
One of my favorite people. 00:10:13
Taking a closer look at. 00:10:14
The last 10 years in 2014. 00:10:16
The tax rate for Georgetown was .35 or $0.35 per $100.00 of assessed value. 00:10:19
That has been reduced 37% over the 10 years. 00:10:26
Georgetown Fire has never gone to the community and asked for more an increase. 00:10:30
In our levy. 00:10:34
We operate. 00:10:35
With zero debt. 00:10:37
We're not paying any interest on outstanding debt. 00:10:38
But while that. 00:10:45
Tax levy decreased 37% over that same 10 year period. 00:10:46
Our run total is increased 80%. 00:10:50
From 639 to last year. 00:10:52
High of 1151 runs. 00:10:55
In the summer and fall of 2022 as we were still trying to come out of the COVID. 00:11:03
Fun. We did some analysis on the runs in Georgetown. 00:11:10
And at that time we were staffing Station 2 on Cordon Ridge Rd. 24/7. 00:11:16
And we were staffing station one with a light crew. 00:11:21
During the day, I think it was 8:00 to 4:00. 00:11:26
We did that because we wanted to have a closer response rate to the. 00:11:29
Elementary school, something happened. 00:11:33
But when we looked at the data, we found that 60% of the runs during the day. 00:11:35
We're on the east side of the district. 00:11:40
Which is. 00:11:42
Where Georgetown Station 2 is. 00:11:43
But at night, between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM, 60% of the runs were on the West side of the district. 00:11:45
And we didn't have any coverage in that area of the district. 00:11:51
Because it was only during the day. 00:11:54
So we went ahead, came up with a plan, working with command staff and. 00:11:56
Board and we decided to open Station 1 and staff at 24/7. 00:12:00
We did not ask for an increase in revenue to do that. 00:12:05
We've been paying for that. 00:12:08
Through funds that we had in our bank account that we had not spent. 00:12:10
It's not a sustainable model. 00:12:14
Last year. 00:12:18
We had 47 times where both stations were out on the run at the same time. 00:12:20
And we would not have been able to. 00:12:25
Cover those runs. 00:12:27
If we only had one station in, that call came in during the. 00:12:29
Currently both districts. 00:12:36
Provide Fire Protection to the community via Georgetown Fire Station 1. 00:12:38
3 firefighters 24/7. 00:12:42
Station 2. 00:12:44
For firefighters, 24/7. 00:12:46
Battalion Chief. 00:12:48
And then the chief and deputy chief 40 hours a week with their own call 24/7. 00:12:50
New Albany Township. 00:12:55
At the Charlestown Rd. station is 3 firefighters 24/7. 00:12:57
And the chief and the deputy chief that worked 40 hours a week. 00:13:01
But realistically, we're on call 24/7. 00:13:04
What we're proposing is increased to four fire stations. 00:13:08
Fully staffed Bud Road 24/7. 00:13:12
With a longer range plan to reevaluate if that's the best location for the community. 00:13:15
Increased staffing at Charlestown Rd. NFPA standards are that if you have a ladder as your truck or your fire engine. 00:13:21
You really should have 4 firefighters on it. 00:13:28
So we want to up the staffing. 00:13:31
From the current 3. 00:13:33
To four. 00:13:35
And add a Battalion Chief 24/7. 00:13:36
Fire prevention is required of a territory and we're proposing creating a full time staff position of a fire Marshall. 00:13:39
They would work full time to help prevent fires. 00:13:46
Educate the community on fire prevention and work on code compliance. 00:13:49
We've gotten feedback that this chart is. 00:13:55
Confusing, and I apologize. We've made the decision not to update and change it because we pretty much want most of the details, 00:13:58
the meat of the presentation, to stay the same for all the public hearings. 00:14:03
What this is showing though is there's two command staff. 00:14:09
A chief and a deputy chief. 00:14:12
That's it. 00:14:14
Everybody else. 00:14:15
On this chart is a firefighter. 00:14:16
On an engine. 00:14:19
On the ladder truck responding to emergency runs. 00:14:20
Georgetown Station 2. 00:14:25
I'm sorry, Georgetown Station 1. 00:14:27
Engine 2 on the far left red. 00:14:29
Box has three firefighters on that. As I previously said, 24/7, 3 firefighters. 00:14:32
Georgetown Station 2. 00:14:38
Latter 2 right next to it. 00:14:40
Has four firefighters, 24/7. 00:14:42
And then the Battalion Chief. 00:14:45
The yellow above it floats around. 00:14:47
And goes where is most needed. 00:14:49
So in Georgetown you would have 3 firefighters downtown and four. 00:14:51
On Coordinate Ridge Rd. and a Battalion Chief. 00:14:56
For the. 00:15:00
Charles, I'm sorry, the New Albany. 00:15:01
Fire District. 00:15:04
The Charlestown Rd. 00:15:05
Ladder 49 over on the right side. 00:15:07
Would have 4 firefighters. 00:15:09
And then Engine 41 Bud Rd. would have 3 firefighters. 00:15:12
And there would also be a Battalion Chief. 00:15:15
Again, roaming around. 00:15:18
Best place to offer the most experience and leadership. 00:15:20
So I know there are a lot of boxes on this, but some of them are engines. 00:15:23
Some of them are. 00:15:28
District. 00:15:29
They're not all people. 00:15:30
But there would be 3 firefighters at one fire station, 3 firefighters at the Bud Rd. 00:15:32
For firefighters at Georgetown Station 2 and 4 firefighters at. 00:15:38
Charlestown Rd. Fire Station. 00:15:41
If this is still confusing. 00:15:44
When we're done, I'd be happy to talk to you. I apologize if this has not been helping our discussion as much as we had hoped. 00:15:46
So, working with the boards and the command staff of both fire districts, we came up with a proposed budget. 00:15:55
Taking those numbers. 00:16:04
And working with Baker. 00:16:07
They came up with what the impact of the community will be. 00:16:08
And Miss Cowan is going to give us those numbers here in a minute. 00:16:12
I want to qualify what you're about to hear though. 00:16:17
The presentation is required by law that we're presenting to you the worst case scenario. 00:16:21
We take very seriously the resources that the community provides to the districts to provide Fire Protection service. 00:16:27
And I think our history. 00:16:34
Especially Georgetown that I'm familiar with. 00:16:35
We've been very good financial stewards of those resources. 00:16:38
The calculations that you're going to see assume that all funding is shifted to property tax levy. 00:16:44
Currently, both districts get almost 1/4 of their revenue through local income tax. 00:16:50
It is unknown if we are going to be able to collect local income tax for the territory. 00:16:55
It also is unknown if the new public safety local income tax. 00:17:00
Will contribute revenue to the fire territory. 00:17:04
But. 00:17:08
If any local income tax goes to the territory, that would reduce the impact to the property tax levy. 00:17:09
Dollar for dollar. 00:17:16
We're not going to try and get more money or something like that. 00:17:17
So with that caveat, I'd like to turn it over to. 00:17:21
Susan. 00:17:24
Who works with Baker Tilly? 00:17:25
Which is a. 00:17:28
Top ten CPA firm and a preeminent advisory tax insurance firm in Indiana. She's a senior manager and a CPA. 00:17:29
So, Susan. 00:17:36
Thank you, Michael. 00:17:37
It's a pleasure to be here this evening. 00:17:39
As Michael said, there are very strict requirements to forming a fire territory, how these meetings go and the type of information 00:17:41
that must be shared. 00:17:45
Aside from the plans for the fire territory itself and fire service and any expansions are changed to fire service. 00:17:50
It is required that taxpayers hear about potential changes to their property tax bills. 00:17:57
And that overlapping units in the county get information on changes to three specific types of of. 00:18:02
Are three specific things that affect their revenues either circuit breaker loss? 00:18:09
Supplemental motor vehicle taxes and local income tax. 00:18:13
So as Michaels already covered a little bit of my first. 00:18:18
First, first slide and 2nd slide where we talk about what a fire territory is, why they're being established. 00:18:20
I want to make sure you understand that there's very few ways. 00:18:27
That units can increase the tax levy that they receive for a given purpose. 00:18:30
The Legislature specifically put. 00:18:35
The fire territory and fire district statutes in place. 00:18:37
And allows those units to somewhat reset their property tax levy. 00:18:41
Because they understand that many areas in the state have outgrown their levees as far as it. 00:18:45
Coming to providing fire service, there's nothing similar to this for police protection. 00:18:50
There's something somewhat similar but not as expansive if a Township decides to disband and or join another Township or another 00:18:56
municipality. 00:18:59
But again, fire service is one of the only ways that units can come together to provide services and set new levies for that 00:19:04
service. 00:19:08
As Michael mentioned, Georgetown will be what is called the Provider unit. 00:19:15
One of the two of the units that participates. 00:19:19
And the territory has to be the center, central point for. 00:19:21
Receiving property tax, making payments and handling the general administration of the territory. 00:19:25
That doesn't mean that New Albany is any less of a participant, it's just that only one can. 00:19:31
Take on that role as participating unit. 00:19:36
And it doesn't have to be permanent if at some point down the road. 00:19:38
Things shift and they want to make New Albany. 00:19:42
The provider unit, that can happen as well, but so in this case, Georgetown would bring like as I said, bring in the property tax 00:19:44
levy on behalf of the territory. 00:19:48
Because a territory is not a separate independent taxing unit, it is not a legal entity. The territory in itself cannot go out and 00:19:52
buy a truck or take out a loan. 00:19:57
The territory is a sub department of what would be the. 00:20:02
Fire District. The Georgetown Township Fire District. 00:20:05
So Georgetown will be responsible for having the annual budget approved. 00:20:09
And then perform this necessary accounting functions and financial items related to provision of fire service. 00:20:12
So we can jump on to the next slide. 00:20:20
So the way that the process works to determine the levy that's necessary to support fire services is the first thing was. 00:20:24
They provided a budget. These are the expenses we expect to have. 00:20:31
When we bring these two districts together. 00:20:34
To provide fire service for all of that territory. 00:20:36
Based upon that budget. 00:20:40
We then. 00:20:42
What are the units paying now for fire service? How much are they receiving? How much are they paying? 00:20:44
What is the tax rate necessary to? 00:20:49
For fire service in 25. 00:20:52
Then we'll look at what the necessary rate is for service under the territory. 00:20:54
And we determine what that net effect is because the statute says. 00:20:59
That the existing levies. 00:21:03
That the two districts are using for fire will be eliminated. 00:21:05
And they will be replaced with the new one for the fire territory. 00:21:09
There is one exception for the New Albany district on some outstanding debt. 00:21:12
As long as that debt remains. 00:21:16
Active. 00:21:18
There will be a levy. 00:21:19
On New Albany South Side only. 00:21:21
For that debt. 00:21:23
Levy that they currently have. 00:21:24
So on this slide where we have these teal and red boxes. 00:21:27
On the left hand side of the screen. 00:21:31
Is the Georgetown district current for 2025 based upon the budgets that they have submitted? 00:21:33
To the Department of Local Government Finance. 00:21:39
The expenses they're planning for 25 and then the associated revenues they have coming in. 00:21:41
So the green box is the revenues, only property tax related revenues. 00:21:46
So that doesn't include their local income tax currently. 00:21:50
As Michael referenced. 00:21:53
This is only property tax, a little almost $2.3 million. 00:21:54
Then they're spending roughly 3.2. 00:21:59
Again, like you said, that doesn't mean it's not being funded. It's being funded from the local income tax that they receive. 00:22:02
So even though that looks like a. 00:22:07
Deficit budget. They have funds available. 00:22:09
It's just not may, may not be sustainable long term. 00:22:12
Then on the right hand side, that's the current Georgetown district. Again, this is just covering provision of fire service. 00:22:16
They're currently about breaking even on their tax revenue. 00:22:21
And their expenses. 00:22:25
About two and a half million. 00:22:26
Almost 2.6 million. 00:22:28
And then again about 2.5, a little over 2.5 million in expenses. 00:22:30
The next page compares the budgets that they currently have. 00:22:36
To the budgets that they would plan. 00:22:39
With the territory. 00:22:41
So any of the bars here in red? 00:22:43
Are comparing that's the what they're planning for the territory. 00:22:46
The blue bars are the current budget and we've combined. We've put New Albany and Georgetown together for the 25 numbers. 00:22:50
So you can kind of look side by side. 00:22:56
So all government expenditures are lumped kind of into 4 main categories, personal services, which is salary, wages, benefits, 00:22:58
anything related basically to. 00:23:02
Retaining, hiring and retaining people. 00:23:07
Then there's supplies. 00:23:09
Pretty self-explanatory. Other services and charges. Are those things like service contracts? 00:23:11
Utilities, anything that you need other to wise to support and run a fire service. 00:23:17
Then there's also capital outlays. 00:23:22
I want to stress that the. 00:23:25
Levy, umm. 00:23:26
To support fire territory services. 00:23:28
Was based upon the operating budget. Only those day-to-day operating expenses. 00:23:31
If there are large capital expenses such as. 00:23:37
Buildings or trucks, those numbers have not been included. 00:23:40
In the operating budget. 00:23:44
Those will either have to be paid for. 00:23:46
Through something called the Equipment replacement Fund, which is a specific fund that the territory can adopt. 00:23:49
To fund capital purchases. 00:23:55
Or would have to consider bonding or loans and something or something like that in the future. 00:23:57
So mentioning the equipment replacement fund? 00:24:02
I want to say one other thing about that tonight is what we would call the public hearing also for that equipment replacement 00:24:05
fund. 00:24:08
After we get through everything talking about the. 00:24:11
Fire territory in general will have another public hearing opened at the end of this meeting. 00:24:14
For comments on the equipment replacement fund. 00:24:19
Now there is a remonstrance that is available. 00:24:23
For the equipment replacement fund only. 00:24:27
Not for the territory. So if. 00:24:30
You have something you want to say tonight about the equipment replacement fund in specific. You can do that during that portion 00:24:32
of the public hearing. 00:24:35
And then if you want to file. 00:24:39
Your opposition. 00:24:41
To that equipment replacement fund specifically, you can do so with the county auditor. 00:24:43
There will be. 00:24:48
If it's adopted, if the equipment replacement fund is adopted at that meeting on. 00:24:49
March 21st there will be a notice published in the paper. 00:24:53
And after that notice is published, you have 30 days to file that remonstrance with the county auditor. 00:24:57
So we can go over this again at the end right before the public hearing for the equipment replacement fund. 00:25:03
I used to sort of wanted to highlight what that is and what that means. 00:25:08
So again, any of those capital items? 00:25:12
It is based upon a finite rate. 00:25:15
Tax rate of .0333. 00:25:17
And will not increase. 00:25:20
So at that point you based upon that assessed value you collect only as much as that rate will allow for capital purchases, 00:25:22
whether that's there, whether it's spent this year, next year, future years. 00:25:27
It can be accrued for long periods of time, or it can be spent right up front. 00:25:32
So the next page, page 8. 00:25:38
Is the calculation of how we arrived at the rate for the territory. 00:25:40
So. 00:25:46
That we have those operating budgets. 00:25:47
For 2026 is. 00:25:49
Over 6.3 million, 2027 it's about 6.7. 00:25:51
And then about 2028 and six point. 00:25:54
In 2028 around 6.8 million. 00:25:57
The capital budget, which is the separate equipment replacement fund, is .0333 cents that. 00:25:59
That, we're estimating would be about 621 thousand the first year of the territory. 00:26:05
644,000 the second year and 670 the third year. Again, that's based upon increases in that assessed value. 00:26:10
The territory statute allows. 00:26:18
The first year to levy for a cash reserve. 00:26:20
Of up to 20%. 00:26:23
This budget does include a 20% cash reserve. That's what the $1.267 million is. 00:26:25
So for the first year, the total funding requirement. 00:26:32
Would be $8,227,981. 00:26:35
Because the territory will receive property tax, it also gets something called supplemental motor Vehicle taxes. 00:26:39
As individuals go to the BMV and put plates on their trucks, their cars, their boats, their planes. 00:26:45
Those fees are collected and a portion of them are redistributed to all units in the county that receive property tax. 00:26:52
So that doesn't mean that you are. 00:26:59
Plate fees are going to go up because of the fire territory. 00:27:00
It just means that. 00:27:04
The territory will now be in part of the distribution, so currently. 00:27:05
The two fire districts are receiving these supplemental taxes, so somewhat you can think of it, what they're currently getting 00:27:09
will be replaced. 00:27:12
They'll be taken away, and they'll be. 00:27:16
That just under the fire territory instead of under the two separate districts. 00:27:17
So we would anticipate they would receive not quite $400,000 in those supplemental vehicle taxes in 2026. 00:27:22
So we've subtract that amount from these funding requirements in 26. 00:27:30
The total amount to be raised from property taxes is $7,836,077. 00:27:35
We divide that. 00:27:41
By the estimated net assessed value. We don't know yet what that number will be for sure. 00:27:42
We've had an analysis run and this is the number they've estimated, so all the current territory for both of these districts would 00:27:47
be taken into account. 00:27:50
And that's a little over. It's almost 2 billion dollars, 1,778,000,000. 00:27:54
2491 dollars. 00:28:00
We then in Indiana, we tax things based upon $100 values of increments of net assessed value. 00:28:03
So we come out with the necessary property tax of .4407. 00:28:09
That will then be included. 00:28:15
Part of the district rate. 00:28:17
For the three taxing districts that are included in these current 2. 00:28:19
Fire Districts 1. 00:28:22
We have Georgetown Township, Georgetown Town, and New Albany Township. 00:28:24
So the next two pages attempt to show. 00:28:28
The base, The estimated cash flow. 00:28:30
For the fire territory. 00:28:33
They will potentially have to make some budget cuts due to circuit breaker loss. 00:28:35
We also. 00:28:39
Don't know for sure what's going to happen in the legislature. 00:28:40
This year with changes to property tax for the next two to three years. 00:28:43
So there may be. 00:28:47
These would be total maximum amounts because if anything. 00:28:48
What it looks like the Legislature is looking at may reduce property tax in the future. 00:28:52
So again, it's what kind of as Michael referenced earlier, these are all sort of. 00:28:56
Maximum. 00:29:00
Most type scenarios. 00:29:01
You can go on to. 00:29:04
No, past that one. 00:29:06
Next one that one is. 00:29:08
So this next couple pages attempt to show the impact to your district property tax rates. 00:29:11
So. 00:29:17
When you pay your property tax bills, money doesn't go to just one place in the county. It goes to multiple taxing units within 00:29:18
the within Floyd County. 00:29:22
It goes to the county unit itself. 00:29:27
To the Township. 00:29:29
Currently it's going to fire districts. 00:29:31
May also go depending upon where your. 00:29:33
Property. Is that just how that your taxing district is decided? 00:29:35
It's where it's located. 00:29:39
It could be going to a there's a school portion. 00:29:41
There could be a solid waste management district, there could be a park district, there could be anyone of a number of different 00:29:43
type of units. 00:29:46
That could receive parts of your property tax. 00:29:50
So when we take out. 00:29:53
Current rates. 00:29:55
For the fire districts and replace it with that new $0.44. 00:29:56
For the fire territory. 00:30:01
We're trying to show you here what that change would look like. So the first block. 00:30:03
Here on page 12 on the left hand side is if your home is in Georgetown Township, that's taxing District 002. 00:30:07
You can see that on your property tax bill. 00:30:14
Which you don't have yet. 00:30:16
For 25, those will be coming out in the next few weeks. 00:30:18
But the estimates lead us to believe that you're, we know that you're certified district tax rate for 2025 is the blue bar. Each 00:30:22
year it's the blue bar that's your 2025 rate. 00:30:28
Of 1.6140. 00:30:33
So the first year. 00:30:36
The net effect change of adding in the fire territory. 00:30:38
Would raise your tax rate to 1.8436. 00:30:42
The second year when we removed that portion for the. 00:30:47
Excess reserve, that 20% reserve. 00:30:52
The rate would be estimated to drop to 1.7777. 00:30:55
And then stay virtually the same the second year, maybe drop a little bit. Again, this is all dependent upon actual net assessed 00:31:00
values. 00:31:03
But that third year it could be around 1.77. 00:31:07
6/6. 00:31:10
So each, that blue bar each year is just meant to sort of give you an idea of what you're paying in 25 and then what 26, seven and 00:31:11
eight would look like. 00:31:15
If your home and property is in Georgetown town. 00:31:20
District 003. 00:31:23
Your current rate for 2025 is 1.8886. 00:31:25
The net effect with the fire territory addition would be 2.1182. 00:31:30
The first year. 00:31:35
2.0523 the second year. 00:31:36
Or 2.0512, the third year. 00:31:39
The next one on page 13 is showing the New Albany Township District 007. 00:31:44
That current rate? 00:31:49
Is 1.6058. 00:31:51
With the territory would be estimated 1.8564. 00:31:54
The first year. 00:31:59
1.7905 the second year. 00:32:00
And 1.7894, the third year. 00:32:03
So part of the reason to undertake. 00:32:07
The fire territory is it? 00:32:10
Equalizes the rate or the amount for fire service amongst the districts. 00:32:12
The taxing districts that are involved. 00:32:18
So the next I think 3 pages or maybe 6 pages attempt to show. 00:32:21
Based upon certain home values. 00:32:25
What your 20 where your? 00:32:27
Money from your 2025 tax bill is going and where it would be going and what those amounts would be for 2026. 00:32:29
So the first one we're talking about $100,000 home. 00:32:36
Homes received some special consideration in that you can file with the auditor to receive a. 00:32:39
Homestead property tax credit. 00:32:44
And then there is a second supplemental credit that is applied to those values. So if your home is worth. 00:32:46
Gross assessed value of $100,000. You are taxed on roughly $36,000 of that after the homestead and the supplemental credits. 00:32:52
So. 00:33:03
2025 on the left hand side of the page, that tax bill would calculate to roughly 470 dollars. 00:33:04
In 2025. 00:33:10
You can see that large orange chunk of that 400 and 73108 is going to the New Albany Floyd County Schools. 00:33:12
$18.00 is going to the New Albany Floyd County Public Library. 00:33:19
$80.00 is going to itself to the. 00:33:24
Floyd County. 00:33:27
Then Georgetown Township is getting $2.00 roughly to provide their additional services. Whether that's. 00:33:29
Helping individuals. 00:33:35
You know if they need. 00:33:36
Housing assistance or utility bill assistance or cemeteries or any of those other things that townships provide. 00:33:37
And then fire service is currently $62.00. 00:33:43
With the fire territory on the left hand side, we're only trying to show the change relative to the fire territory. 00:33:47
We realize that there are other things that can cause your property tax bill to change. 00:33:53
But we have no way of knowing all of those things currently. We don't know what the county might be doing or what the library 00:33:58
might be doing for sure. So we are just trying to isolate. 00:34:02
The impact of the fire territory. 00:34:06
So in this case. 00:34:09
Within 26, we would estimate your bill to be $537 on that $100 home. 00:34:10
The only change being. 00:34:17
That red portion of the pie? 00:34:19
Is now larger and represents $129 rather than the previous 62. 00:34:21
So for the next one. 00:34:30
We have that was page 14. Page 15 we have Georgetown Township. 00:34:32
So in this case, remember they had a higher tax rate. 00:34:39
So I think this is a $200,000 home. I'm so sorry. It's a $200,000 home in Georgetown Township again. 00:34:41
This home would have the same. 00:34:47
Residential. 00:34:50
Homestead credit and then a supplemental credit so it's not taxed on the full $200,000. It's somewhere. 00:34:51
Around $100,000 at the actual tax bill. 00:34:57
Run on. So in this case, that bill would be about $1375 in 2025. 00:35:00
$900.00 of that bill would go to the school. 00:35:07
53. 00:35:09
To the library 235 To the county. 00:35:11
Roughly $7.00 to the Township and currently they're paying about 180 for fire service from their tax bill. 00:35:14
With the. 00:35:20
Fire territory in 2000 and 2026. 00:35:21
That amount for fire service would go up to about $375, the total tax bill itself. 00:35:24
We go to 1570. 00:35:29
The next. 00:35:34
2 pages are for Georgetown Town if you live in the town of Georgetown. 00:35:35
The explanations are the same for those other items. The school. 00:35:39
You can see their current fire service because they're paying the Georgetown rate. Georgetown district rate for fire $62.00 and 00:35:42
129. 00:35:46
Then after the fire territory. 00:35:50
And for the $200,000 home again, like the Township. 00:35:52
180. 00:35:56
Towards fire service. 00:35:57
Pre territory in roughly 375 after. 00:35:59
For New Albany Township. 00:36:04
They are currently paying about 50 on a hundred $100,000 home. That bill is generating about $55 in revenue. 00:36:07
For the fire district. 00:36:13
Than for the territory after in 2026 would be about 128. 00:36:15
And then for the $200,000 home in the Township. 00:36:20
Their current bill in 25 would be about $162.00 for fire service and then roughly 375. 00:36:24
For the territory. 00:36:29
And then the following. 00:36:33
3 pages just give more examples of different potential property tax impacts. 00:36:34
So again, the first one is Georgetown Township. So if you don't have $100,000 home, if your home is maybe closer to $200,000. 00:36:39
The first block. 00:36:47
There at the top of the page and page 20. 00:36:48
Is other values of the 1% tax cap homes. 1% tax cap homes are your your primary residence. 00:36:50
So if you have $200,000 home like on that. 00:36:57
Previous example The bill is roughly. 00:37:00
1375 without the fire territory in the purple column. 00:37:02
That first kind of greenish column would be the first year of the territory that Bill would go up to. 00:37:07
Roughly $1570. That's a 14.2% increase. 00:37:12
That's equates to about $195 a year, or $16.00 a month. 00:37:17
I want to point out. 00:37:22
That 14.2% if you have a home or property value that is not falling into any of these Nice even round. 00:37:23
Examples that we're showing. 00:37:30
If you look at your. 00:37:32
2020. 00:37:34
You could use your 24 and get a rough idea your 2025 tax bill when you get it would be the one to use. 00:37:35
Multiply it times 1.142. 00:37:41
Or you're going to increase it by roughly 14.2%. 00:37:44
That would give you an idea for your individual property what your tax bill might look like. 00:37:48
If it's not going to fall into one of these, nice even. 00:37:52
Examples. 00:37:55
You can see the second year which is that orange column, kind of orangish column. 00:37:57
For the $200,000 home, the bill would end up around 1514 so. 00:38:00
About $5.00 a month. 00:38:05
And then that next, that third year is going to change less than a dollar a month. 00:38:07
It's not going to be. 00:38:11
A change at that point, the rate kind of flattens out after the second year. 00:38:12
We also show examples for farmland or other residential other residential meaning rentals. 00:38:17
If you have a second home. 00:38:23
In the district, something taxing district, something like that or? 00:38:25
Just plain egg or regular agricultural property. 00:38:28
Those types of properties do not have any of those. 00:38:31
Credits that I mentioned earlier, not the Homestead credit or the supplemental credit. 00:38:36
They are taxed at full value. 00:38:40
So if you have a. 00:38:42
$50,000 Piece of agricultural property or second. 00:38:44
Home. 00:38:47
The the cap on that bill. 00:38:48
Would be at 2%. 00:38:51
So 2% of $50,000. 00:38:53
Excuse me? 00:38:56
Or $1000. 00:38:57
In this case, your bill would be roughly 807 before the tax cap, before the fire territory. I'm sorry, 922 the first year of the 00:39:00
territory. 00:39:04
Than 889 or 888 the third year. 00:39:09
And those examples follow that same logic. 00:39:12
All the way down. 00:39:15
The third type of property we're showing here is commercial, like a business. 00:39:16
Whether that's an industry like a factory or a shop or a store or a home business. 00:39:20
This commercial and personal properties 3% tax cap. 00:39:25
And they are again like this 2% taxed at full value. 00:39:28
So if you have a $250,000 piece of commercial property. 00:39:31
Without the territory this coming year in 25. 00:39:35
Your bill is estimated. 00:39:38
At 4035 dollars. 00:39:40
With the territory it would be estimated at 4609 dollars. 00:39:42
That's roughly a 40, almost $48 a month change. 00:39:47
To that tax bill. 00:39:51
And then it sort of flattens out to 4444, maybe drops a little bit the second year. 00:39:52
4442, the third year again, those examples. 00:39:58
Are the same going on down into different types of? 00:40:03
Currently there are not. 00:40:06
Many properties in Georgetown Township. 00:40:08
District at the. 00:40:11
Their tax caps. 00:40:12
So until we get to quite a bit higher levels of. 00:40:14
The home, The residential properties. 00:40:17
We would not expect to see homes hitting the tax caps. 00:40:19
And then until that amount would be over 2 or. 00:40:22
Higher than $2.00 you would not see any of the farmland and it would take a rate of at least $3 for the commercial properties to 00:40:25
hit their tax cap values. 00:40:29
Georgetown Town. 00:40:34
Excuse me? 00:40:36
These are the same type of examples. 00:40:37
The $100,000. 00:40:40
Home in. 00:40:41
Georgetown Town. 00:40:43
The bill would go from roughly 550 to $617.00. That's a 12.2% increase. 00:40:44
Again, if you multiply, you live in Georgetown Town, you multiply your bill times. 00:40:50
That 1.122. 00:40:54
You're going to increase 12.2%. That would give you an idea of what your bill would look like if it doesn't fit into one of the 00:40:57
examples here. 00:41:00
And then for. 00:41:05
New Albany Township. 00:41:07
The increase to those tax bills would be roughly 15.6%. 00:41:08
So. 00:41:13
The $200,000, that equates to $200,000 home. That equates to about $18.00 a month. 00:41:14
In addition. 00:41:22
Then if we look at farmland. 00:41:23
$100,000 piece of farmland. 00:41:26
Or at least second rental home. 00:41:28
The amount would increase by about $20.00 a month. Your tax bill between 25 and 26. 00:41:30
Than a $250,000 piece of property would increase roughly. 00:41:35
$52 a month in their tax bill from 4015 to 4641 for the first year of the territory. 00:41:39
And then accordingly on across for the other years. 00:41:46
Go ahead. Now we're to the section where we discuss other overlapping units in the county and how they may be affected. I'm not 00:41:52
sure if there's anyone here from the school or the county. 00:41:56
Tonight, but we will talk about that and how they'll be affected. 00:42:01
This first page covers some of what I just talked about as far as property tax caps. 00:42:05
All properties in Indiana fall into one of these 3 Cal. 00:42:09
Classifications and the bill is capped. 00:42:12
You can pay based upon. 00:42:15
Your gross assessed value. 00:42:17
And this is written into our Constitution. It's likely not going to change anytime in the near future. 00:42:19
So the example is. 00:42:25
For that 1%. 00:42:26
Up Homestead property. 00:42:29
Your bill, your tax bill cannot be more than 1% of the gross assessed value. 00:42:31
So if the rate is such that it were to calculate out higher. 00:42:36
Then in this case it would be $1000. So if your bill came out at 1200 dollars. 00:42:39
The homeowner just does not pay that $200 above the cap. 00:42:44
And the units in the county do not receive it. That becomes what we call circuit breaker loss. 00:42:49
As I mentioned in the county. 00:42:53
There are some places where units are not at circuit break. 00:42:56
Or lost. Yet they're they're. 00:42:59
Rate is such that their homes values have not been pushed to their caps. 00:43:00
So similarly with an agricultural unit, you have that 2%. 00:43:04
So on a $100,000 property. 00:43:08
The maximum bill would be 2000. If it came out to 2100, that $100 just would not be collected. 00:43:11
And it would be considered circuit breaker loss to the overlapping units. 00:43:18
So the next. 00:43:22
Slide tries to show or attempts to show what we would expect would happen to circuit breaker. 00:43:24
Within the county. 00:43:30
In Floyd County, what happens? What occurs with one unit? 00:43:32
Will. 00:43:35
Virtually all other units in the county. 00:43:37
So for Floyd County. 00:43:40
We estimate in 2026 if there was number fire territory. 00:43:41
They would have roughly $516,000 in circuit breaker loss and that's spread across all of their property tax funds. 00:43:45
It goes to their. 00:43:52
General fund, their Cumbridge fund, if they have a park fund or a health fund. 00:43:53
That $516 in loss is spread across all those funds. 00:43:58
With the fire territory. 00:44:03
We estimate it would be about $527,000 the first year. 00:44:05
Roughly 584,000 the second year. 00:44:10
In about 580,000 the third year. 00:44:14
So that's an increase maybe around that second year of about $50,000 more in loss to the county. 00:44:17
Some of these other units that we have listed here only have what we call over 65 loss. 00:44:23
Those are credits that go to individuals that are over age 65. 00:44:29
Whose properties are of a certain value that are within certain income limits that have gone to the county and. 00:44:33
And file for this exemption. 00:44:38
So those exemptions are not calculated in our example. 00:44:40
Because they are very specific on a specific home, they're they are not an across the board type of estimate. So we can't include 00:44:43
those, but we try to save where we're. 00:44:48
We're not putting those ends. For example, Franklin Township I believe only had the over 65 loss. They didn't have any properties 00:44:53
that were hitting. 00:44:57
The credit, the tax credits for them. 00:45:01
So they weren't losing because of that, they're losing only because of the over 65 credit. 00:45:04
So below we show for Georgetown District. 00:45:09
Of course they're. 00:45:12
They're going to lose their current operating levy and their current. 00:45:13
Capital Levy. 00:45:17
It'll all be shifted towards the. 00:45:18
The territory. 00:45:20
And then New Albany will have that one small levy left for debt service. 00:45:22
But debt service does not receive. 00:45:27
Regular. 00:45:29
Circuit breaker loss. 00:45:30
It only has the over 65 loss attached to it. 00:45:32
So you see what the circuit breaker would be, Roughly 4. 00:45:36
The territory about 9 almost $10,000 the first year. 00:45:40
And then? 00:45:45
About around $2000 a second. About 1500, the third year. 00:45:45
The next thing we'll talk about is local income tax. 00:45:51
Local income tax or taxes on your payroll? 00:45:54
Your adjusted gross income. 00:45:57
So wherever you work. 00:45:59
Your HR people are taking money out of your taxes based upon the county you live in. 00:46:00
So if you. 00:46:06
Live in Floyd but work in Clark County. 00:46:07
Your money comes back. Your local income tax money comes back to Floyd County with you. 00:46:10
If someone works here but lives in Clark. 00:46:14
Their local income tax money goes back to Clark County. 00:46:17
So every county has different rates of local income tax, and it's up to the local counties which kinds they collect and at which 00:46:20
rates. 00:46:24
It's currently Floyd County has something called certified chairs. 00:46:28
That is. 00:46:32
A general purpose type of local income tax that usually goes into the general fund. 00:46:33
That that is at 3/4 of a percent. 00:46:37
They have a newly adopted public safety. 00:46:41
Which is at half a percent. 00:46:43
They have an economic development lit which is at. 00:46:45
3/10 of a percent. 00:46:47
Correctional facilities lit which is for. 00:46:49
Jail services. 00:46:52
They have something called property tax relief. 00:46:53
Which is 1/10 of a percent. That is to help alleviate the effects of circuit breaker for all of the taxing units in the county. 00:46:56
And they have a judicial systems lit at 41 hundredths of a percent. 00:47:03
Now the. 00:47:07
Certified chairs, Public safety and economic development are distributed amongst various units. 00:47:08
The certified shares goes to the county, the municipalities, the townships and currently the fire districts. Public safety only 00:47:14
goes to the county. 00:47:19
And the municipal units. 00:47:23
Economic development. 00:47:26
Only goes to the county and the municipal units. 00:47:27
Correctional Facility goes straight to the county. 00:47:30
Judicial system goes straight to the county. 00:47:33
And then property tax relief is spread amongst all units in the county. 00:47:36
On a per tax bill basis. 00:47:41
So the next slide shows what we expect to happen to local income tax because of the FIRE territory. 00:47:45
There is a stipulation in the legislation that allows. 00:47:50
For the participants of this fire territory. 00:47:54
To receive. 00:47:57
Portions of local income tax. The territory does not itself receive any local income tax. 00:47:59
So in this case. 00:48:05
And it's done based upon relative proportion of levy. 00:48:06
So if currently, for example, we'll just use Floyd County as an example, if the county had. 00:48:10
25% of all the levies in the county as a whole. 00:48:15
They would receive 25% of the certified chairs local income tax. 00:48:18
So in this case. 00:48:24
If we add levy because of the fire territory, it can change that shifting allocation. 00:48:26
So in this case it looks like. 00:48:33
It's always happens a year behind as well, so if the territory takes place in 26, it's not going to affect local income tax until 00:48:35
2027. 00:48:38
So we inserted a change column here to show we would anticipate the app because of the first year of the territory. 00:48:43
In 2027, the county could expect to lose roughly $317.00 in local income tax, we believe. 00:48:50
We've not been able. 00:48:58
To get clear answers from the Department of Local Government Finance on this. 00:48:59
But we believe that. 00:49:03
Potentially. 00:49:05
The districts will continue to receive the local income tax they do already. 00:49:06
And if that's the case, because of their participation in the fire territory, a portion of it could shift to them from other 00:49:10
units. 00:49:14
So that we. 00:49:19
See some change then through 27 and 28 to other overlapping units. 00:49:20
The lines there in Orange are what we are estimating for the fire territory, the participating units of the territory. 00:49:25
Again, as Michael explained, they would use that money to replace the property tax potentially if that is how things continue to 00:49:32
work. This is sort of a new situation. We don't have other districts in the state. 00:49:38
That have combined to form a territory. 00:49:43
So I think that's why the DLGF did not initially answer or could not answer our question. 00:49:45
So the next. 00:49:50
Type of income is local public safety income tax. Because of the territory, there would be no effect here unless. 00:49:51
The county were to choose to give a portion of the public safety to. 00:49:59
The fire territory or other fire. 00:50:04
Service providers in the county. 00:50:06
There's no requirement that they do that. 00:50:08
And none of the units taking part currently receive public safety. So we wouldn't anticipate a change in either that or the 00:50:10
economic development lit on the next page because like I said, that's only the county. 00:50:15
And the municipal units. 00:50:21
Fire districts and our territories are not considered. 00:50:22
In the this. 00:50:25
Distribution of those types of local income tax. 00:50:27
The third kind is the vehicle excise tax, the one I just spoke about earlier that you pay when you go to put what plates on your 00:50:30
vehicles. 00:50:33
So in this case it is again like the local income tax allocated based upon proportion of levy. 00:50:37
So if we're increasing levy to the fire territory. 00:50:43
It's possible that they could receive a larger share. 00:50:47
Than in some other units in the county could potentially lose. 00:50:50
For example, we're showing the county line at the top. 00:50:53
They get roughly without the fire territory, about 1,024,000. 00:50:56
With the territory, we're estimating about 1,013,000, that's roughly $11,000. 00:51:01
Less in revenue for the county. 00:51:06
But we are holding these amounts total amounts equal. So all things. 00:51:09
If things change. 00:51:13
There it could potentially be the county may not see a difference at all. 00:51:14
Because if those amounts. 00:51:18
To allocate increase. 00:51:19
They could maintain the current amount that they receive. 00:51:21
Like I said, the territory will specifically receive. 00:51:24
The excise tax because it receives property tax. 00:51:28
So that. 00:51:32
Includes my part of the financial presentation if anyone has questions. 00:51:33
Turn this around if you make comments. Yes Sir. 00:51:39
Why don't you come up to the podium? 00:51:42
Rob Puff, Georgetown. 00:51:51
I'm not a tax expert by any means. 00:51:53
When Fire Protection goes up, what does that do to the property tax bill? Does that increase your property tax bill? 00:51:56
In turn when you have more Fire Protection. 00:52:02
Yeah, that was what I tried to explain. 00:52:05
So I understand this part of this and this is what it would be. 00:52:30
I understand. I understand that. 00:52:33
It will be held for future years past. 00:52:36
26 It is held to whatever the statewide levy group. 00:52:48
So if the county will be. 00:52:52
0% Loading growth 61 percent 27%. 00:52:59
So we can never go. 00:53:04
Increase any greater than any. 00:53:07
I think. I think what he's asking is a question. 00:53:14
Higher rates on insurance. 00:53:18
Yeah, I mean there there's a formula upon which and the and the chief here in the room or the other. 00:53:20
Command staff would be better suited to serve that. 00:53:26
There are a lot of things that can impact your homeowners insurance. 00:53:30
For example, how close you are to a hydrant. 00:53:34
Do you have a hydrant nearby? 00:53:37
So, umm. 00:53:39
Our expectation is that. 00:53:40
Will continue to provide a high level professional Fire Protection service for the community. 00:53:42
And the only impact it would have on your. 00:53:47
Omar's insurance or your property value? It should be. 00:53:49
I can't quantify it though. And give you a number, sure. 00:53:53
But I don't see how it's going to hurt. 00:53:56
Let's put it that way. What would increase the value of my home? 00:53:58
Well, it's a. It's a broad. 00:54:02
The home will that increase the by the property tax that I have to pay again? 00:54:04
I think I understand what you're saying I. 00:54:09
I don't know that. 00:54:12
We can quantify that. 00:54:13
If a property value increases year over year. 00:54:17
What percentage of that was because more people want to live in the community? 00:54:20
Was it because they've got good Fire Protection or police, or the roads don't have potholes? 00:54:24
I'm not sure that I can really answer that question. 00:54:30
OK. Thank you. 00:54:33
Before I get ahead of myself, I'm sorry. 00:54:45
Is that are you wanting to ask questions specifically of Susan and her presentation? 00:54:47
Well, I have several questions before you start. 00:54:52
So we're not at the public comment section, but it was just if Susan had some comments. 00:54:56
Or questions for her and her expertise. OK, we'd let those get asked, but for. 00:55:02
Public comment if you could hold it just a few minutes. I can't. 00:55:07
I'm sorry. 00:55:10
For the confusion. 00:55:11
Real quick. 00:55:13
Troy, pivot to Keith and then we'll have public comment up, up. 00:55:14
Opportunity. This is just kind of a summary of what we are proposing. 00:55:19
The fire territory, we're asking the community for roughly 19 percent increase in funding. 00:55:24
But for that 19% increase in funding. 00:55:29
We're going to increase from three to four fire stations, which is a 33% increase. 00:55:32
We're going to increase staffing of actual firefighters. 00:55:37
Fighting fires. 00:55:41
50%. 00:55:43
So it's important to understand why we're doing what we're doing and what we're asking. 00:55:46
So I'm going to go ahead and. 00:55:51
Turn it over to Keith. 00:55:53
Hello, my my name is Keith Pulliam. I'm an attorney with stalking in Ogden. 00:56:02
And the attorney for the Georgetown Township Fire District in April, Galt Maker, is here. 00:56:07
As the attorney on behalf of the New Albany Township Fire Protection District. 00:56:12
I'm going to speak very briefly because most of what I say will have already been presented and discussed here. You've already 00:56:17
heard it from both of these presentations. 00:56:22
But again. 00:56:26
Purpose of what? 00:56:27
We are here tonight to discuss is the establishment of the Fire Protection District, which would become known as the Floyd County 00:56:29
Fire Territory. 00:56:32
And the two participants of that will be the two fire districts that you've already heard from. 00:56:36
Again, the legal basis for this is a particular set of statutes in the chapter known as the Fire Territory Fire Protection 00:56:42
Territory Statute. 00:56:46
And they really require that the two of them be contiguous. 00:56:50
Meaning you know which they are next to each other. 00:56:54
And what the other purpose that's been discussed for tonight already is what's called the equipment replacement fund. 00:56:57
The best way I describe that is both of the districts now currently have what's called a cumulative fund. 00:57:03
For their CapEx expenses? 00:57:09
And the the. 00:57:11
Equipment replacement fund is more or less the counterpart that would replace those two cumulative funds. So those would go away 00:57:13
and they would be replaced by the. 00:57:17
Equipment replacement fund. 00:57:23
So just to understand how the mechanics work. 00:57:24
After the three public hearings at the 4th. 00:57:28
Date which I believe is set for the 21st. 00:57:31
The two fire district boards would consider the adoption, potentially of identical resolutions. 00:57:34
The resolutions would. 00:57:39
Form the district again. 00:57:41
Creating. 00:57:44
I'm sorry form the territory. 00:57:45
Known as the Floyd County Fire Territory established the boundaries which would be both district boundaries. 00:57:47
Established that both participants are participating units. 00:57:54
And that Georgetown Township Fire Protection District will be the provider unit. 00:57:58
It would also establish the uniform property tax rate, which you've heard quite a bit about. 00:58:03
And it would create an operating fund which would replace the two funds that are currently in place, called the Special General 00:58:09
Fire Fund for each district. 00:58:14
The budget moving forward would be determined by Georgetown Township Fire Protection District with assistance from New Albany 00:58:20
Township Fire Protection District. 00:58:24
And the you heard about the equipment replacement fund, it would have a separate levy. 00:58:29
Much like the QM funds do now. 00:58:35
And that would just be a separate fund? 00:58:38
The resolution would create a joint executive board. 00:58:41
And that would be the Board for administrative planning and operating. 00:58:45
Of the budget. 00:58:50
Portion umm. 00:58:52
The if you think about it, we're not creating again, you're not creating a new entity. You're just having the two fire districts 00:58:53
come together. 00:58:57
They're signing a cooperation agreement in between the two of them. 00:59:01
For Georgetown to act as the operating agency. 00:59:05
With New Albany Township acting as a participant. 00:59:09
And that board would be comprised. 00:59:13
Very equal A2 four person board. 00:59:17
With two trustees or two members of that board from each. 00:59:20
District. 00:59:25
So each year they would annually work together. 00:59:26
Based upon a recommendation from the provider unit. 00:59:29
To establish the budget and go through the normal budget process. 00:59:33
The uh. 00:59:36
The territory would presume to take over the enforcing agency for Co compliance and I believe you heard of a discussion earlier 00:59:38
about that. 00:59:42
The the two districts, the resolutions would call for them to contribute their cash. 00:59:48
To to go towards the. 00:59:54
There will be this period of time in which they. 00:59:58
Exists, but then the levy won't come in until 26, so they will contribute their cash. There might be a $50,000 reserve for some. 01:00:01
Expenses, but short of that, it'll all be contributed towards the fire territory. 01:00:10
And the each district would. 01:00:15
Contribute use of its apparatus, equipment, firehouses, things like that, but would retain title. 01:00:18
So they're not transferring title to a territory. 01:00:26
Again, the territory is just the cooperative. 01:00:30
Agreement between the two. 01:00:33
And, you know, if there were to be a withdrawal from the territory by one of the two parties and there's a mechanism within the 01:00:35
interlocal agreement that just says that the parties would. 01:00:40
Then back out, keep their respective properties and we'd have some pro rata. 01:00:47
Allocation of expenses or equity. 01:00:53
And I think that probably covers. 01:00:56
Thank you, Keith. OK. As we described earlier, the process that we're going to run the meeting tonight. 01:01:02
At this point, are there any board comments or discussion? 01:01:08
OK, then we'll open it up for public comment. 01:01:13
On the way that we've done this and it's worked pretty well is. 01:01:16
If you'll please come up to the podium and sign in. 01:01:19
We'll have a three minute period where everybody has an opportunity to talk. I'll let you know if you're getting close to that, 01:01:21
but I won't start the timer until you've actually signed in, so you don't have to worry about talking and writing at the same 01:01:25
time. 01:01:28
If everybody has an opportunity to speak and somebody wants to speak again, we'll be happy to have you come up. 01:01:32
And. 01:01:38
We now are ready to hear. 01:01:39
This is a question and answer session. 01:01:42
We're receiving public comments. 01:01:44
Will you answer questions? 01:01:47
If we can. 01:01:50
But what we've done in the past, just so you know, as we received questions at each of our meetings. 01:01:51
And then we've incorporated that into the presentations or we've followed up with individuals. 01:01:56
We may not have the answer right now, so. 01:02:01
If you would like to step up, we ask that you please use the microphone because people online cannot hear you. 01:02:03
If you're not speaking into the microphone. 01:02:09
And I'm sorry, after you sign and if you do, introduce yourself. 01:02:32
And where you live? 01:02:35
I'm Denise Conkle. I live at 8855 Highland Lake Drive in Georgetown. 01:02:43
And I'm on the County Council. 01:02:49
So I have several questions actually. 01:02:52
That I was wanting to ask. 01:02:57
The first one is umm umm. 01:03:00
Does the commissioners have to approve the fire territory? 01:03:03
No. 01:03:06
Then my second question is, is. 01:03:09
Does the County Council have to approve? 01:03:12
The Fire Territory budget. 01:03:15
As it did. 01:03:17
The fire district. 01:03:19
Budget. 01:03:20
So the answer to that question. 01:03:23
I don't, I don't know that I can give you an exact answer, but what would what we would envision would be that? 01:03:26
We will work with DLGF to establish the initial budget. 01:03:32
And then through the annual budgetary process instead of seeing 2 separate budgets for the different districts. 01:03:35
You will see one presentation from Georgetown. 01:03:42
In which they will have a line item for the fire territory and it will be within that budget and that will. 01:03:45
So we will be approving the right. 01:03:51
We will be approving the budget and then. 01:03:53
The rate that goes with that budget. 01:03:57
I think what the? 01:03:59
County it will be a normal process in which we process is that the dish, we the budget. 01:04:00
The district comes before. 01:04:07
The Council. 01:04:09
To have the budget approved. 01:04:11
And. 01:04:13
Along with that, the right. 01:04:16
Well, the DOG I think will set the initial budget. 01:04:20
OK. And then in the annual process like it is transpired in the past we believe? 01:04:23
That it will be part of Georgetown's budget which will come before the Council. So my question then becomes. 01:04:30
How can an appointed? 01:04:37
Bored. 01:04:39
Approve a tax levy. 01:04:42
Get a tax levy without going through. 01:04:44
And an elected official that seems like. 01:04:48
Taxation without representation to me. 01:04:51
It has to be approved. 01:04:55
At some point by elected officials, the way the statutes written is the process that we're following. 01:04:57
And the way that. 01:05:03
I look at it because I had that question myself. 01:05:05
Each one of the board members here is appointed and serves at the pleasure of the county commissioners. I understand that, but 01:05:08
you're not an elected official. 01:05:11
So when do? When is? 01:05:15
The taxpayers don't have a say. 01:05:17
And really, who's being? 01:05:20
Who is a? 01:05:24
Who is assigning the taxes? 01:05:28
That they're they're being asked to pay. 01:05:30
We'll come up in 3 minutes. My my my observation. I'm not sure that's true. 01:05:33
I'm just. 01:05:39
Wondering how that could possibly be? 01:05:41
Can I pause you? It's 3 minutes if you want to come back up. I'm sorry. 01:05:45
Oh, we're already at 3 minutes. 01:05:49
OK. 01:05:52
Thank you. 01:05:54
Hey, guys. 01:06:23
Ladies Dale Man, Georgetown Township. 01:06:25
I don't have a lot to say like you've done. Heard what I thought about this for a while. 01:06:29
I do have a question. 01:06:33
For Mr. Moore, you said Georgetown's levies never went up since 07:00. 01:06:35
Is that correct? Their tax levy? 01:06:39
We've never asked to increase the tax levy. 01:06:42
OK. The rate? 01:06:45
But it sounds like but your budgets always went up and you always got more money every year right from reassessments. 01:06:46
It sounds like you're working with the same money and everybody knows you can. 01:06:53
You're having, you're getting. 01:06:57
Georgetown has got more money. It takes more. 01:06:58
But the way you stayed is like. 01:07:01
We get we're living on the same levy for. 01:07:03
What, 15 years? 01:07:05
The rate has decreased. 01:07:08
We have not asked for an increase in the levy. 01:07:11
The revenue that we. 01:07:15
Collect in order to do the work that is done has increased annually because of. 01:07:18
The statewide. 01:07:23
And I'm sorry it's my area of expertise, but. 01:07:26
The growth factor. 01:07:29
I understand that, but the way you present it when the levy has never been increased or haven't asked for anything. 01:07:31
Like you're living the same money. I'm sitting up to listen. I just wanted to bring that up. 01:07:36
And another thing was asked for me. 01:07:40
Doesn't the insurance pay the fire department anything for coming? 01:07:43
That's not on the budget. I've seen it nowhere. 01:07:47
They reimbursed ********. 01:07:49
No, historically we do not file insurance claims. 01:07:52
Every time I've seen a fire, the insurance company pays fire department some way or another. 01:07:56
No. 01:08:00
You know, if you've seen it, I'm not arguing with you, I'm just saying I've been involved in. 01:08:02
Fire department in Georgetown almost 25 years. I know my dad's barn. Barn and Farm Bureau give him 5. 01:08:06
I know that that's been a few years ago and Georgetown responded to that part. 01:08:12
I've seen that, Jack. 01:08:15
And was that a volunteer department? 01:08:17
That was probably went up. 01:08:20
Well, I can't answer that. I can't and I'm making eye contact with command staff behind you. 01:08:21
The only time that we have. 01:08:28
No, we've never gotten an insurance payment responding to. 01:08:30
Maybe it was long term, Sorry. 01:08:33
And another question like I appreciate Denise Copper for asking. 01:08:35
That question she should be asking. 01:08:40
Because she is right. 01:08:42
In nursing. 01:08:44
I still see where Georgetown residents benefit nothing. 01:08:46
For getting their taxes for Fire Protection district over. 01:08:50
I see no protection. 01:08:54
Benefit to the Georgetown Township? None. 01:08:56
Thank you. 01:09:00
Thank you. 01:09:01
Well. 01:09:13
Yeah, I don't think they're going to be very many people, so we'll get back to you. 01:09:14
Robloff, Georgetown. 01:09:33
First of all, I want to thank you all for everything that you guys do. 01:09:36
I'm glad that you guys are the first people that we call when we need. 01:09:39
Assistance and probably people's worst day of their lives. 01:09:43
I'm glad that you guys are the the highest trained in the county. 01:09:47
I I really appreciate that, so please do not take offense. 01:09:51
To my questions. 01:09:55
I just want. 01:09:56
Questions answered, I've asked my Commissioner. 01:09:57
And he told me to bring these questions to you guys. 01:10:00
I when station 1. 01:10:05
Was not fully staffed. 01:10:08
And then we fully staffed them, I think you said in 2022. 01:10:09
Where did those funds come from? Where did it come from? A surplus? 01:10:13
We had. 01:10:16
And. 01:10:18
Mr. Sharp last meeting said that a new fire engine was purchased with cash. Is that also from the surplus? 01:10:20
And the renovations to Station 1 and Station two were from the surplus as well. 01:10:28
So in the past. 01:10:33
Three years we've been operating off of that surplus, taking funds away from that. 01:10:34
At what point? 01:10:38
Did somebody say we should probably start to replenish this surplus? 01:10:40
Rather than wait till it's completely. 01:10:45
Depleted. 01:10:47
Was there ever a conversation I've not heard any public comment about? 01:10:51
Yes, it was an intentional plan. 01:10:55
To begin to spend down the surplus. 01:10:57
That we had. 01:11:01
And. 01:11:02
We did that so that we could provide more Fire Protection in the community. 01:11:03
OK. Also recognizing that it's not sustainable. 01:11:07
So. 01:11:11
There would be a next step. 01:11:12
After we started that and. 01:11:14
In order to address that revenue imbalance. 01:11:15
And that's. 01:11:19
This is the solution that we have decided is the best way to handle that. 01:11:20
But you're correct. 01:11:24
At Georgetown. 01:11:26
We've bought actually. 01:11:27
At least 2 fire engines. 01:11:28
Paid cash for them so there's no debt added back to the community. 01:11:30
And we've done both station renovations over the last. 01:11:35
7-8 years. 01:11:39
And that also was paid for with. 01:11:41
Cash. We did not take on debt in order to accomplish that. 01:11:43
A little earlier. 01:11:47
Renovation. 01:11:48
My next question would be how did we? 01:11:52
Get such a large surplus if we're operating 2 fire stations. 01:11:54
Fully staffed. 01:11:59
Were we not already taxed enough? Is that what the surplus came from? 01:12:01
Now it was long term planning that we were. 01:12:04
Not spending every time we got. 01:12:07
And it was done intentionally so that we could take some of those large capital projects on. 01:12:09
Without having to go back to the community. 01:12:14
And ask for more money. 01:12:16
But we could not staff both stations and pay for it. 01:12:18
It's the same problem that New Albany Township Fire District has. They have enough revenue to staff one station. 01:12:21
They can't staff a second station under the district revenue model. 01:12:27
OK. I'm sorry you're coming up on three minutes if. 01:12:31
OK. 01:12:35
So. 01:12:37
In Georgetown, how many? 01:12:38
New firefighters are going to be increased. I couldn't. 01:12:40
Didn't get any clarity from that, would it be? 01:12:44
Two extra per shift or would it be one extra per shift or how does that work? Right now the plan is that we would have a training 01:12:46
officer. 01:12:50
Fire Marshall. 01:12:54
And we already. 01:12:56
Jump started the process we hired. 01:12:59
3 firefighters this past year. 01:13:01
OK. 01:13:04
I'll wait till. 01:13:06
My next 3 minutes. 01:13:07
That's the next step. Thank you. Thank you. 01:13:09
So I had I had some further questions, but I'm going to. 01:13:23
Sort of piggyback on to. 01:13:28
The questions that were just to ask says. 01:13:30
I wrote something today. The Georgetown Fire Department has used over $1,000,000 in cash on hand over the last few years. 01:13:34
For operating costs and has passed. 01:13:41
Up the opportunity to increase increase their Max levy. 01:13:44
And now they're in a situation where they must. 01:13:49
Form either a territory. 01:13:52
Or I don't think there's any way for you to stain. 01:13:55
Through 2026 and 2027. Is that true? 01:13:59
Current revenue imbalance because you had the opportunity last year and at budget time when you came in front of the Council. 01:14:03
We ask specifically. 01:14:12
Why aren't you raising your Max levy? 01:14:15
Amount so that you can get more tax revenues without. 01:14:18
Creating a fire territory with staying with the district, the other two fire districts. 01:14:23
Took that opportunity to do that now they didn't raise their rates to the Max. 01:14:29
But they took the opportunity to raise their Max levy. 01:14:34
Amount. 01:14:37
So that they had the opportunity to do that and you guys did not do that. 01:14:38
Why not? 01:14:43
Because we did not need the money. 01:14:44
But you didn't need the money? No, we had a big plan. 01:14:47
And we were working on it. 01:14:50
We have. 01:14:51
Earlier tonight we had a board meeting. We approved that we're going to file the 10 year population growth levy. 01:14:53
Increase. 01:14:58
But that would not be effective until 2026. 01:14:59
And that is a backstop if for some reason the fire territory doesn't come to creation. 01:15:03
But that amount of revenue does not solve the revenue imbalance. 01:15:09
It's not enough. 01:15:13
I'd like to see those numbers because my second question then is what are the other options that are being looked at? 01:15:16
We've heard that. 01:15:22
Most of the constituents that I talked to do not want this. 01:15:23
They feel like the Georgetown has. 01:15:29
The fire coverage that they need. 01:15:32
And I understand that you have a revenue problem. 01:15:34
But I'd like to see what the revenue problem is and is. Are there other ways to go about doing this without creating a fire 01:15:37
territory? 01:15:42
This is a MoneyGram. 01:15:46
And the Council just passed. 01:15:49
The largest tax increase in Floyd County history, and now on the backs on the heels of that. 01:15:52
Here we come again. 01:15:59
And we're raising taxes again. 01:16:00
I'm telling you, if this goes in front of the County Council. 01:16:02
I will not vote. 01:16:05
For this, I will not vote for the raid. I will not vote for the budget. 01:16:07
We have to live within our means and their rights. I've got. I haven't seen any other plan presented. 01:16:11
Besides this one. 01:16:16
It's a huge plan. 01:16:18
And maybe there are there ways to umm. 01:16:21
To to put the phase this in without doubling the tax fire tax. 01:16:25
In one year. 01:16:33
I don't know. We haven't heard any other options. This is the only option we've heard. 01:16:35
3 minutes or 11? 01:16:40
OK. 01:16:42
So in Georgetown. 01:16:58
You said that we made 1100. 01:17:00
Runs. 01:17:03
And God forbid that increases. But with the population growth that Georgetown is having, it's. 01:17:05
The nature of it is going to increase. 01:17:11
So I'm a simple math guy. I'm not a mathematician by any means, so. 01:17:13
Say it increases 10%. 01:17:18
And goes to 1200 calls per year. 01:17:20
If everybody here can get out their calculator 1200 / 365. 01:17:24
Is 3.22 per day between two houses. 01:17:29
That's 1.6 runs per day. 01:17:33
Per Firehouse. 01:17:36
And of those runs. 01:17:38
Is there a breakdown between the medical? 01:17:39
Automobile. 01:17:42
An actual structure fires. 01:17:43
How many of those are actual structure fires versus medical calls versus automobile calls? That information is available on our 01:17:46
website. 01:17:50
We have a Chiefs report. 01:17:54
That is presented to the board every month. 01:17:56
And then is attached to the meeting minutes. 01:17:59
And it breaks down a lot of that data that you're asking about. 01:18:01
If you can't find it, if you want to come talk to me, I'll be happy to show you where. Yeah, I would like. I would love that. 01:18:04
And being that we are so close to the Franklin Township and Highlander. 01:18:10
Will we be providing mutual aid to those areas and are those mutual aid calls factored into that 1100? 01:18:16
Yes. 01:18:23
So how many actual calls within the Georgetown? 01:18:24
Township, Georgetown Town. 01:18:28
Were there without. 01:18:30
Factoring in the mutual. 01:18:32
I can't answer that question, but it's all documented in the Chiefs report. 01:18:34
OK. 01:18:37
The next question is why would the tax burden be placed on Georgetown? 01:18:39
If we are doing mutual aid calls to other townships who are not. 01:18:43
Paying higher property taxes? That does not seem. 01:18:47
Fair. 01:18:52
And I don't want anybody to get hurt. I don't want anybody to be unprotected. 01:18:54
But if we're paying higher taxes to cover people who don't want to be a part of this plan. 01:18:58
We should not be offering mutual aid to those districts. 01:19:02
What is the penalty for not meeting the NFPA standard? 01:19:11
It's a standard, not a regulation. 01:19:15
OK, so there's there's no penalty. 01:19:17
There's no penalty unless something goes wrong, somebody gets hurt. 01:19:20
And, and God forbid something happens to you guys, I. 01:19:24
We don't want that, right? 01:19:27
We're this a very small Township in the second smallest county. 01:19:29
In the state of Indiana. 01:19:33
I don't believe that we have any structures large enough other than the schools. 01:19:35
Which I would imagine every. 01:19:39
Department in the county would come to help out with that. 01:19:41
I don't see us needing. 01:19:44
To meet that NFPA standard in Georgetown. 01:19:46
Has seemed excessive. 01:19:49
Especially based off the number of calls that. 01:19:51
You guys carry on. 01:19:54
In addition to the mutual aid calls. 01:19:58
That just seems very excessive. 01:20:00
Hiring a full time training officer. 01:20:02
Who is doing the training now? 01:20:05
Honestly, there's a good questions. 01:20:08
This probably is not the best way to respond to all of them. 01:20:10
If you want to sit down and talk about it, be happy to. 01:20:13
Command staff also, we have an open door policy. Anybody in the community can come in and talk. 01:20:16
You're asking questions, but there actually are good reasons why the decisions that have been made have been put into. 01:20:21
Place and. 01:20:26
We can go back and forth for half an hour and talk about it, but I really think sitting down. 01:20:28
And asking the questions that the people that can answer and provide you that information. 01:20:33
Could that be recorded for? 01:20:38
For public knowledge? Or would that just be between you and I? 01:20:39
I don't have a problem with it being recorded. 01:20:43
We can figure that out if that's what you're in. 01:20:46
Interest is sure. I just want the the people of Georgetown and. 01:20:48
And everybody to to know what's really going on rather than. 01:20:52
There's half a dozen people in this room. 01:20:56
And the commissioners aren't in this room, so there's really no representation from our commissioners either. 01:20:59
So I would just. 01:21:04
You know, for my own personal sake in the my community, my neighbors, my family. 01:21:05
I think that we have a right to know the answers to this question, and just so you know that all three Commissioners were at the 01:21:10
last meeting. 01:21:13
As was I, yeah. 01:21:16
Thank you. You're welcome. 01:21:19
Dale Madigan, I want you to clarify something. 01:21:31
You said Georgetown. 01:21:33
Was getting two more. 01:21:35
Firefighters, no, I did not say that. 01:21:36
I think that's what you told me. Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking of something else. 01:21:39
One would be the Fire Marshall. 01:21:44
Another media trainer, Would they be full time at your channel? Are they going back and forth between them they would be 01:21:46
responsible for? 01:21:49
Their duties in the territory. 01:21:52
OK, then you can't say that. 01:21:53
George, I'm going to have two more firefighters. 01:21:55
Truthfully. 01:21:58
Right, that's a matter of opinion. 01:22:01
OK, we still have some work that we need to do this evening, so. 01:22:16
I'll take a motion that we close. 01:22:20
Motion. 01:22:25
Yeah, yeah, whatever. I mean, you can just close, OK, if there's no further comment and then we'll open the second public hearing. 01:22:26
Thank you. So at this point, we're going to close the public hearing. 01:22:33
And then we are going to open the public hearing for the equipment. 01:22:37
Replacement fund. 01:22:41
We don't have an additional. 01:22:46
Presentation. It's already been covered by what Susan talked about earlier. 01:22:48
But this is an opportunity of somebody in the public wants to. 01:22:54
Make a comment specifically about the equipment replacement fund. 01:22:57
This is the opportunity for that. 01:23:01
OK. So we'll close the public hearing on the equipment. 01:23:16
Placement Fund. 01:23:19
I'd like to thank everybody for coming out. 01:23:20
Appreciate your involvement. 01:23:22
And your questions? 01:23:24
If we didn't answer all of your questions, please let us know. 01:23:25
And we'll try and make sure that we get those answers to you. 01:23:28
Thank you. 01:23:31
Motion to adjourn. 01:23:34
Jeffrey. 01:23:37
Motion on our part. 01:23:39
Scott umm. 01:23:40
2nd. 01:23:41
Give we're closed. 01:23:43
Thank you. 01:23:44