Meeting: Fire Territory Public Meeting

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Event transcript
	OK. Good evening, everybody.	00:01:32
	It's 5:30.	00:01:33
	We'll go ahead and get things started. Everybody's got busy lives, especially with all the work we've had to deal with with the	00:01:35
	storms.	00:01:38
	Past week.	00:01:41
	So let's please start with the pledge allegiance if you'll all join us.	00:01:42
	I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.	00:01:47
	And to the Republic for which it stands.	00:01:54
	One nation under God.	00:01:57
	Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.	00:01:59
	OK, for those up.	00:02:17
	Here when you speak since this is being live streamed.	00:02:19
	If you would use the microphone.	00:02:23
	And you need to touch the button in a little green light comes on.	00:02:25
	At the top.	00:02:28
	So I'll remind you if you forget, but if we can all try and do that, I would appreciate it.	00:02:30
	We'll start the meeting with getting a roll call from each of the three district boards.	00:02:34
	We'll start with Georgetown.	00:02:39
	My name is Michael Moody. I'm here.	00:02:41
	Kyle Johnson.	00:02:44
	Here Tom Fisher.	00:02:45
	And we're expecting one more to show up here in a little bit. We'll acknowledge that he's here, but we have a quorum for	00:02:47
	Georgetown.	00:02:50
	Highlander.	00:02:53
	Matt Smith here.	00:02:55
	Billy Stewart here.	00:02:58
	Bill Fender here.	00:03:00
	Heather Schonkwiler here.	00:03:01
	I should have one on zoom. Michael Bloom.	00:03:04
	If you can hear me, Michael Bloom here.	00:03:07
	And we're all 5 here.	00:03:09
	OK. Thank you very much.	00:03:14
	Mr. Smith, New Albany Township.	00:03:15
	I'm Scott Sears, chairman here.	00:03:23
	Ben Gate, vice Chair.	00:03:25
	Danny Jacobs is not.	00:03:29
	Kyle Lanu.	00:03:31
	And gib Kinney.	00:03:33
	So we have quorum also.	00:03:35
	OK, excellent. Thank you, everybody.	00:03:36
	The agenda is going to go as follow if you have not seen it.	00:03:40
	There'll be a short presentation on Floyd County fire territory expansion.	00:03:44
	And then we'll have the financial impact analysis presentation.	00:03:48
	A legal presentation.	00:03:51
	And then we'll have time for public comments.	00:03:53
	We have a sign up sheet over here on the desk if you would like to.	00:03:56
	Offer public comments. Please put your name on the sheet.	00:03:59
	And then we'll go down the sheet in order so everybody can have a chance.	00:04:02
	The way we've done this in the past, and seems to work pretty well, is.	00:04:06
	Will receive comments for three minutes.	00:04:10
	And then?	00:04:12
	That way we give a chance for everybody to do public comments.	00:04:13
	If there's time afterwards and somebody wants to say something, they can then.	00:04:16
	Sign their name back up again.	00:04:20
	And they'll have another 3 minutes.	00:04:22
	So we'll go ahead and start first.	00:04:24
	The reason that we're here is as required by state statute.	00:04:30
	To hold three public hearings to discuss the expansion of the Floyd County fire territory.	00:04:34
	To include Highlander fire.	00:04:39
	Protection District.	00:04:40
	So we're going to start with just a little bit of background. Not everybody is familiar with what we're doing or why we're doing	00:04:51
	it.	00:04:54
	A fire territory is an entity created by the state.	00:04:57
	Legislature.	00:05:01
	Where two or more taxing districts, which could be townships, municipalities or fire districts.	00:05:02
	That share physical boundaries.	00:05:07
	Can join together to form a fire territory.	00:05:10
	Or you can join an existing fire territory.	00:05:12
	Which is what we are.	00:05:16
	Talking about this evening.	00:05:17
	There are three fire districts in Floyd County.	00:05:19
	Georgetown, Highlander and New Albany Township.	00:05:21
	Georgetown and New Albany Township.	00:05:24
	Are already members of the fire territory.	00:05:26
	And I'll acknowledge board member Jeff McNulty.	00:05:31
	He can come on front.	00:05:34
	No hiding in the back.	00:05:36
	Likely excuse.	00:05:40
	A little bit of background in May of 2024.	00:05:42
	Normally Township.	00:05:45
	Fire Protection District approached Georgetown Township Fire Protection District about forming a fire territory.	00:05:46
	The Floyd County Fire Territory started operations.	00:05:52
	January 1st of this year.	00:05:55
	2026.	00:05:56
	Highlander Fire District has expressed an interest in joining the Floyd County.	00:05:58
	Fire territory as part of a large scale update to the fire and EMS for Floyd County.	00:06:02
	So why join a fire territory?	00:06:09
	That way you can better align the Fire Protection within the community.	00:06:12
	What the community needs.	00:06:16
	You can provide it a little bit better.	00:06:17
	You can provide consistent, professional Fire Protection for the county.	00:06:19
	And take advantage of operational efficiencies.	00:06:23
	And equipment, training, human resources and accounting.	00:06:26
	And also a goal that we have been discussing is working towards implementing closest station dispatch.	00:06:30
	The fire stations that exist in Floyd County are located where they are.	00:06:37
	By and large, the result of when Volunteer Fire departments.	00:06:42
	Were the only option.	00:06:45
	And that means sometimes.	00:06:48
	A facility.	00:06:50
	May not be as close to a house.	00:06:52
	Within a boundary.	00:06:54
	But with new technology and working with our partners and dispatch.	00:06:57
	We may be able to change that so that we can dispatch the closest station.	00:07:00
	Not just the one for the area where you live.	00:07:05
	Each fire district would be a participating unit.	00:07:10
	We would be expanding the territory to include Highlander Fire Protection District.	00:07:13
	Georgetown Particip.	00:07:17
	Protection District is the provider unit.	00:07:19
	And we'll continue in that role.	00:07:22
	We list the.	00:07:24
	Chief of the Department Ned Wiseman.	00:07:25
	And then Deputy Chief Franklin and Deputy Chief Barnes.	00:07:27
	Would then be part of the command structure.	00:07:31
	All current firefighters.	00:07:34
	For Highlander District and the territory.	00:07:36
	Would be employed.	00:07:39
	By the fire territory.	00:07:40
	And the existing 2023 collective bargaining agreement between the local.	00:07:42
	5393 and the Georgetown.	00:07:47
	Fire Protection District will remain the CBA for the fire territory.	00:07:50
	This is the.	00:07:56
	Proposed, uh.	00:07:57
	Org chart for the fire territory if Highlander.	00:07:58
	Joints.	00:08:01
	This can be a little bit.	00:08:05
	Of an eye chart, especially if it's not clear to you.	00:08:06
	We are able to answer questions about it.	00:08:11
	The fire territory.	00:08:14
	Will encompass 6.	00:08:18
	Fire stations.	00:08:19
	Each fire station.	00:08:21
	Will be staffed 24/7.	00:08:23
	The current proposal is that we work on a three.	00:08:26
	Crew rotation.	00:08:30
	A crew. B crew. C Crew.	00:08:33
	They worked for 24 hours.	00:08:35
	And then you start over again. So if Monday was a group.	00:08:37
	Tuesday was B Crew.	00:08:41
	Wednesday with C Crew.	00:08:42
	Then Thursday becomes a crew again, and it repeats itself.	00:08:44
	There would be.	00:08:49
	4 firefighters.	00:08:51
	On the ladders and two of the engines.	00:08:53
	And then at.	00:08:56
	Budd Rd.	00:08:58
	And.	00:08:59
	I don't want to say this wrong.	00:09:02
	One of the other stations they would have.	00:09:05
	I'm sorry there would be 5.	00:09:09
	Firefighters on the ladders.	00:09:11
	And.	00:09:12
	US150.	00:09:14
	And State Road 64.	00:09:16
	And station.	00:09:19
	Downtown Georgetown would have 4.	00:09:22
	And Bud Rd. would have 4 firefighters.	00:09:26
	There also would be a Fire Marshall.	00:09:29
	A major in charge of training.	00:09:33
	And the captain assisting with the major in the training.	00:09:35
	Support staff would be the.	00:09:39
	State required financial officer.	00:09:41
	And an admin assistant.	00:09:43
	The way that we would.	00:09:48
	Pay for all that.	00:09:49
	Is the proposed budget, which is also included in this presentation.	00:09:51
	There will be more information on financial matters when the Baker Tilly presentation comes next.	00:09:54
	This proposed budget.	00:10:01
	Has.	00:10:02
	80 firefighters.	00:10:03
	Not included in that number 80, for a total of 85 employees.	00:10:07
	Are the chief of the department.	00:10:11
	Two deputy chiefs and the two.	00:10:12
	Administrative staff.	00:10:14
	Members.	00:10:16
	The financial officer and the HR admin assistant.	00:10:17
	The process to expand the fire territory requires that you have three public hearings.	00:10:24
	This is the first one.	00:10:29
	In two weeks, with February 11th at the same time in place, we'll have the next one.	00:10:30
	And then two weeks after that, February 25th, same place and time, we'll have the third required meeting.	00:10:35
	And then the statute requires you to have an adoption meeting.	00:10:41
	Where each of the boards will vote on a resolution to expand the territory.	00:10:44
	And that again will be held in this room at My View Government Center at 5:30 on March 11th.	00:10:49
	If approved.	00:10:57
	Highlander Fire Protection District would join the fire territory and starting January 1st, 2027.	00:10:58
	11 months from now, roughly.	00:11:05
	Now Baker Tilley.	00:11:07
	Has been assisting us in doing the calculations on finances and the impact to the community.	00:11:08
	Baker Tilly is a top 10 worldwide CPA firm and preeminent advisory tax and assurance firm in Indiana.	00:11:15
	And Susan Cowan, senior manager, CPA.	00:11:21
	She will be presenting the Baker Tilly portion of the.	00:11:24
	Presentation this evening.	00:11:28
	So, Susan, Are you ready?	00:11:29
	Do you want the clicker?	00:11:35
	Yes.	00:11:36
	Good evening. I'm going to stand over here and not use a microphone, but I think I speak loud enough that everyone can hear me.	00:11:43
	You can't or something's not clear. Please raise your hand and let me know, Susan.	00:11:49
	Because we've got people online.	00:11:54
	I don't know if the room mics, yeah, but that would be perfect. Thank you.	00:11:56
	OK. So we'll go with that.	00:12:09
	As Michael said, I'm Susan Cowan.	00:12:13
	With Baker Tilly, yeah.	00:12:15
	Come here from Indiana.	00:12:17
	Excuse me, Indianapolis this evening. If you were at any of these meetings last year, you likely saw me as well. We assisted with	00:12:18
	the formation of the current fire territory.	00:12:23
	And we've just continued that this year now to add Highlander.	00:12:27
	To the existing fire territory.	00:12:31
	I brought copies of the presentation. There were some at each door. I'm not sure if there was enough or not if there weren't all	00:12:36
	units.	00:12:40
	Have an electronic copy.	00:12:43
	If you get.	00:12:45
	The attorneys or fired?	00:12:46
	District board individuals your names, they can get you an electronic copy.	00:12:48
	Of the report.	00:12:52
	This is the presentation, I'm sorry.	00:12:54
	So.	00:12:57
	Taxing units which are Highlander Fire District.	00:13:00
	Georgia Georgetown Township Fire Protection District.	00:13:04
	And the New Albany Township Fire Protection District.	00:13:08
	Are joining together.	00:13:10
	Under a statutorily.	00:13:12
	Controlled process called a fire territory.	00:13:14
	They already at some point in the past went through the fire district process to become fire districts.	00:13:17
	But now they are coming together to join a territory.	00:13:23
	Which again statute says is an allowable.	00:13:26
	Combination.	00:13:29
	Really. In Indiana?	00:13:31
	Legislation there is only.	00:13:33
	A couple ways.	00:13:36
	That units can consolidate in any way.	00:13:37
	To obtain more.	00:13:40
	Tax revenues.	00:13:42
	And fire service is the main.	00:13:44
	Function for which they can combine or consolidate.	00:13:47
	Whether it's as a district.	00:13:50
	Or a territory.	00:13:52
	So the option for the fire district.	00:13:54
	Is allowing them to request an increase in levy.	00:13:56
	From the Department of Local Government Finance.	00:14:00
	Or if I say the DLGF, that's what I'm referring to.	00:14:03
	They're the authority in the state.	00:14:06
	For approving property tax levies.	00:14:08
	Assigning property tax rates.	00:14:11
	And making sure that information is doesn't.	00:14:13
	This sent out across the state and available.	00:14:15
	So Michael's already explained.	00:14:19
	Otherwise, what this district is and what the plans are for the district and what the dates of the meetings are.	00:14:21
	So we don't need to really.	00:14:27
	Start at the beginning of the presentation.	00:14:28
	We can jump ahead to page.	00:14:31
	5, Slide 5.	00:14:34
	That's this one.	00:14:39
	So.	00:14:42
	The statute outlines the financial process to determine the allowable levy.	00:14:43
	That the units that are.	00:14:48
	Consolidating.	00:14:49
	To provide.	00:14:50
	Fire service can request.	00:14:51
	Part of the process is we have to determine what the units are currently paying.	00:14:54
	For get our levying.	00:14:58
	For fire service.	00:15:00
	Then we determine what the property tax rate would be.	00:15:02
	To support the new budget.	00:15:05
	That they have created.	00:15:07
	Then we determine what the gap is.	00:15:09
	Between the current tax rate.	00:15:12
	And the new tax rate for fire.	00:15:14
	And then estimate what future tax bills would be.	00:15:16
	For all types of property in Indiana.	00:15:19
	Was 1% homestead properties.	00:15:22
	2%.	00:15:25
	Either farmland or secondary residential like.	00:15:27
	Vacation homes or second homes?	00:15:30
	Or, umm.	00:15:32
	Assisted living facilities.	00:15:33
	Or then ultimately 3% properties.	00:15:35
	Those properties that are commercial.	00:15:38
	Or, uh.	00:15:40
	Items that fall in a business personal property nature.	00:15:40
	So we'll have examples here of how we've.	00:15:44
	Of what each tax bill looks like, and we'll trace the path of how we got there.	00:15:46
	So this is the first page, this one on page 6.	00:15:50
	Looks at what the current rates are for fire.	00:15:54
	The state just wrapped up it's.	00:15:57
	Process for the 2026 budget.	00:15:58
	The budgets were just approved for all three districts.	00:16:00
	Tax rates were set for those units.	00:16:04
	And the district tax rates?	00:16:06
	For the properties throughout the county.	00:16:08
	So the current.	00:16:11
	Fire territory.	00:16:14
	Between Georgetown Township Fire Protection District and New Albany Fire Protection District.	00:16:15
	Currently has total tax receipts. They're the column.	00:16:20
	Block on the left hand side of the screen.	00:16:23
	For this year, their revenues are $7,026,800 in property tax.	00:16:26
	They receive other revenues as well.	00:16:32
	Things like.	00:16:35
	Supplemental motor vehicle taxes because any unit in the state.	00:16:36
	Not just these districts.	00:16:39
	Get to.	00:16:41
	A portion of.	00:16:42
	The license tax that's paid when individuals go to the license branch to either put plates on their cars, their boats.	00:16:43
	Their planes.	00:16:49
	If this does not cause an increase to those fees.	00:16:51
	There's always an amount of it that comes back to the taxing units.	00:16:54
	It just slightly changes the allocation of those fees across the county.	00:16:57
	So they're receiving.	00:17:04
	In capital, that's their smaller red bar. At the top they have something called an equipment replacement fund.	00:17:05
	Which is the capital fund that's allowed to a fire territory.	00:17:10
	In order to accrue overtime to make larger capital purchases like buildings or vehicles.	00:17:13
	Those items are not allowed to be included in the operating levy.	00:17:19
	And the new levy that we're resetting at the operating level?	00:17:23
	Only certain things like recurring.	00:17:26
	Scuba packs or turn out gear?	00:17:29
	Those things that get replaced on a more frequent, sometimes annual basis because you're doing a chunk of them.	00:17:31
	Each year those things can be included in the operating levy.	00:17:36
	But buildings, trucks, those larger things cannot.	00:17:40
	So their capital portion?	00:17:44
	Is $598,400 and then the.	00:17:46
	Larger blue portion is their operating receipts.	00:17:49
	Then the smaller the next one on the right hand side.	00:17:54
	That's Highlander.	00:17:56
	Their current receipts this year are estimated at $5,455,000.	00:17:58
	Again for operating and capital.	00:18:03
	Capital receipts are about $437,600. Operating receipts are about $5,017,400.	00:18:06
	That comes out to a tax rate.	00:18:16
	The top green bar here is Highlanders rate. They currently have a rate of .3039.	00:18:19
	That's for their operating and they have a cumulative equipment fund as well.	00:18:25
	There is also a debt service levy fund.	00:18:30
	That is not included.	00:18:33
	Debt does not existing. Debt does not get pulled into the fire territory.	00:18:35
	So Highlanders debt will stay only with.	00:18:40
	The District.	00:18:43
	Rates are the communities that are within the District, rates that support Highlander.	00:18:45
	That's Greenville, Town of Greenville, Greenville Township.	00:18:49
	In Lafayette Township.	00:18:52
	So that debt portion until it's paid off, we have some information about that later in the in the presentation.	00:18:53
	Will stay only with the Highlander.	00:18:59
	Communities.	00:19:02
	New Albany also has existing debt.	00:19:04
	That stays with them this year as well.	00:19:06
	So it is not a part of the line at the bottom.	00:19:09
	This is the Floyd County.	00:19:12
	Territory Fire Territory rate for this year of .39.	00:19:13
	10.	00:19:17
	The next 3 pages.	00:19:20
	Detail the operating budget.	00:19:22
	That we were provided.	00:19:24
	If you have questions about that budget, those should be directed to Michael, to Mr. Moody.	00:19:26
	We pay attention to on the third page of the budget.	00:19:31
	Which is.	00:19:35
	Page 10.	00:19:37
	The blue line that says total operating budget.	00:19:38
	11,000,000 Nine 21367.	00:19:41
	Susan Jovi to click for you.	00:19:44
	Oh, sorry.	00:19:46
	On this page.	00:19:49
	That top blue line there is the budget that we are then facing.	00:19:51
	The new operating levy.	00:19:56
	For the combined the territory including Highlander.	00:19:58
	This page estimates roughly.	00:20:06
	What the revenues?	00:20:08
	Complete revenues of.	00:20:10
	The new territory will be.	00:20:12
	So we have what?	00:20:14
	An operating levy that we've calculated.	00:20:16
	Of uh.	00:20:18
	Roughly the first year 11,000,000 Three 53467.	00:20:19
	Based upon assessed value.	00:20:23
	That capital or the equipment replacement fund?	00:20:25
	Can only be at a maximum rate of .0333.	00:20:29
	And so based upon what we assume.	00:20:33
	Assessed values will be in 2027.	00:20:35
	That amount for capital would be roughly 1,000,128.	00:20:39
	1593 dollars.	00:20:42
	Now all units.	00:20:46
	In the state.	00:20:47
	Are affected by something called circuit breaker loss.	00:20:49
	That's the next next line, that negative amount.	00:20:52
	Each individual home.	00:20:56
	Is.	00:20:58
	You have you have a tax cap.	00:20:59
	Based upon.	00:21:01
	The assessed value of your home.	00:21:02
	So for example, if your.	00:21:04
	Home is worth $100,000. That's the tax value of your home the the basic assessed value that the county arrives at.	00:21:06
	If it's $100,000 you cannot pay more than.	00:21:13
	1%.	00:21:16
	Or $1000.	00:21:18
	On your tax bill.	00:21:19
	So if your tax bill calculates.	00:21:21
	Higher than that $1000.	00:21:23
	You don't pay it.	00:21:26
	And the.	00:21:28
	Governmental entities throughout the county don't receive it.	00:21:28
	So if your tax bill calculated out to 1200 dollars.	00:21:32
	That additional $2000.	00:21:35
	You would not have to pay that.	00:21:37
	That loss is then distributed across.	00:21:39
	The units that are part of your district rate.	00:21:42
	Because when you pay your property tax bills, that money doesn't go just one place.	00:21:45
	It goes to the county.	00:21:50
	It goes to the library, it goes to the school.	00:21:51
	It goes to a Township if you live in town, if you live in Georgetown.	00:21:54
	Or in.	00:21:57
	Greenville, it's going to go to the town.	00:21:58
	So the.	00:22:01
	That those tax payments are divvied up amongst all the units.	00:22:02
	And so is the loss.	00:22:05
	So because of some changes that were made last year in the state legislature.	00:22:08
	We anticipate loss increasing greatly over the next three to five years.	00:22:12
	So that line there of $1,176,608.	00:22:17
	Is a what we believe is a very conservative high end estimate.	00:22:23
	Of what this?	00:22:27
	Newly combined territory could expect to suffer circuit breaker loss next year.	00:22:29
	We haven't calculated tax bills yet even for 26, so we don't really know what 26 loss is going to be.	00:22:34
	To then translate that to 20.	00:22:39
	But all of the.	00:22:43
	Amounts that we show in here even when we get to tax bills.	00:22:45
	Should be considered a worst case scenario.	00:22:48
	Where if we're saying you might see a $30 increase, you may see because of a fire territory A10 or A-15 or a $20 increase.	00:22:50
	There's just a lot of things that have to be worked out that we can't.	00:22:58
	No, because we don't have a crystal ball to know how much a home is going to be worth specifically.	00:23:01
	In 2000 or?	00:23:06
	2027.	00:23:07
	Or any of those.	00:23:09
	Exactly what that circuit breaker loss comes out to be.	00:23:10
	So we recommend.	00:23:15
	Total, unless there's other revenues, if there's some other form of revenues, if the county provides other forms of revenues to	00:23:18
	the district or the territories, which they could.	00:23:22
	The budget may have to be cut.	00:23:27
	In 27 in future years.	00:23:29
	But.	00:23:32
	The DLGF does not allow making up.	00:23:33
	That circuit breaker gap.	00:23:36
	So we only calculate what the levy will be based upon the budget.	00:23:38
	The line there across the bottom.	00:23:43
	Estimates what the new tax rate will be in each of those years, again based upon.	00:23:46
	That levy.	00:23:51
	And the.	00:23:52
	Estimated assessed values.	00:23:53
	So the first year we estimate.	00:23:55
	That, umm.	00:23:57
	The territory rate would be .3683.	00:23:58
	The second year we recommend.	00:24:02
	Estimate that it would be .3617.	00:24:04
	And the third year .3552.	00:24:07
	You're seeing a decline.	00:24:10
	Even though the budgets are going up.	00:24:11
	Because there's an assumption of growth in net assessed value.	00:24:13
	If the growth in net assessed value is slightly different than this.	00:24:17
	The actual tax rates may be slightly different.	00:24:21
	The next page is where I reference we mentioned debt.	00:24:29
	So as I said.	00:24:32
	Neither the New Albany.	00:24:35
	District.	00:24:37
	Or the Highlander district can include their existing debt.	00:24:38
	In the operating levy for the new territory.	00:24:41
	There's some detail about the current.	00:24:45
	Debt New Albany.	00:24:46
	Will be paid off in 2029.	00:24:48
	Highlanders goes out through 2036.	00:24:50
	If in the future.	00:24:54
	It is determined.	00:24:55
	As I know.	00:24:57
	Right now, that's not under consideration.	00:24:58
	But if it were ever to be considered that any new debt needed to be issued, whether it was for a facility.	00:25:00
	Or for apparatus.	00:25:06
	Or anything of that nature.	00:25:07
	The territory itself.	00:25:09
	Cannot.	00:25:11
	Issue debt. It's not considered a governmental unit.	00:25:11
	The territory is a subunit.	00:25:15
	Of the provider unit, which is Georgetown currently.	00:25:18
	So it would be up to Georgetown.	00:25:22
	They could issue debt if.	00:25:24
	Necessary.	00:25:25
	On.	00:25:26
	The taxpayers within their rates.	00:25:27
	New Albany could also issue debt.	00:25:31
	Or more debt on taxpayers within.	00:25:33
	Their districts.	00:25:36
	And Highlander could do the same.	00:25:38
	But the territory in and of itself cannot issue 1.	00:25:40
	Piece of debt to encompass everyone in the territory.	00:25:43
	So now we have some examples of the estimated property tax liability.	00:25:50
	So.	00:25:56
	So currently.	00:26:00
	Part of the goal of a.	00:26:01
	Territory or a district?	00:26:03
	Is so that.	00:26:05
	All of the properties within.	00:26:06
	The units that are combining.	00:26:09
	To make the district or the territory.	00:26:11
	Pay the same rate.	00:26:13
	For fire service.	00:26:15
	So currently.	00:26:17
	Georgetown Township.	00:26:20
	And Georgetown Town, which are part of the Georgetown district.	00:26:21
	And New Albany.	00:26:25
	Township.	00:26:26
	As part of the New Albany Township District.	00:26:27
	Are paying the same rate for fire that was that.	00:26:29
	Bar that I showed you.	00:26:32
	A few slides back that .3910 this year.	00:26:33
	Whereas then.	00:26:37
	Greenville Township. Greenville Town.	00:26:38
	And Lafayette Township are all paying the same rate for fire currently that.	00:26:40
	$0.30 a little over $0.30 almost 31.	00:26:44
	Because they're all part of the same district.	00:26:47
	Now the district rates are different because again, it has to do with where the property is. Is it in town? Is it in the Township?	00:26:51
	Where exactly does it lie?	00:26:57
	So this first page.	00:27:00
	Look at.	00:27:02
	The This is the current fire territory.	00:27:03
	Georgetown.	00:27:05
	District and New Albany District.	00:27:06
	So if you live in Georgetown Township.	00:27:09
	Your current 2026 tax rate is 1.7772.	00:27:11
	If we.	00:27:18
	Because the statute says there can be no duplicate taxation, we have to remove.	00:27:18
	The current tax rate.	00:27:23
	Of .3910.	00:27:25
	And add in the new tax rate for the territory.	00:27:27
	At .3683.	00:27:31
	So it's a net change.	00:27:34
	For the individuals in the Georgetown district, that is actually a negative change, so it would.	00:27:36
	Make their.	00:27:42
	Because of the territory.	00:27:43
	That fire portion?	00:27:45
	Would drop.	00:27:46
	And yes, I know that we're only trying to isolate the impacts of the fire territory.	00:27:48
	Are there other things that could cause other changes on your tax bill?	00:27:53
	Yes.	00:27:57
	There are the.	00:27:58
	Value of your home could change or will change.	00:28:00
	The school could issue debt.	00:28:03
	Some other unit, the library, could issue debt.	00:28:04
	Somebody could.	00:28:07
	Add somebody else could make a fire turret. Well, I guess they couldn't. They couldn't overlap you. Sorry, that was a bad example.	00:28:08
	But other things could happen that could change your tax bill, but we're trying to look just at what would happen because of the	00:28:14
	territory.	00:28:17
	So because of.	00:28:21
	In Georgetown Township, we would expect potentially a 1.3%.	00:28:22
	Decrease to the tax rate.	00:28:26
	Because of the territory.	00:28:28
	For 2027.	00:28:29
	Then for Georgetown town.	00:28:33
	Their current tax rate is $2.00.	00:28:34
	And a little over almost $0.03.	00:28:36
	2.0287.	00:28:38
	When we pull out their current fire.	00:28:40
	Rate of .3910.	00:28:42
	Add in the .3683, you can see it's the same net change.	00:28:45
	Negative, uh.	00:28:49
	Their bill would drop roughly 1.1%.	00:28:50
	For New Albany Township.	00:28:53
	Based upon that same calculation.	00:28:54
	Their rate would drop to to about.	00:28:56
	One point.	00:28:57
	Probably about 1.3%.	00:28:58
	Then on the next page.	00:29:01
	Greenville Township.	00:29:03
	Greenville Township's current rate is.	00:29:08
	For 26 is 1.6829.	00:29:10
	So if we pull out their current 30.	00:29:13
	Little over 30 cents .3039. Replace it with .3683.	00:29:15
	That net impact is a change of a little over $0.06.	00:29:21
	.0644.	00:29:24
	That's roughly a 3.8% district.	00:29:26
	To the tax bills or district increase to the tax bills for Greenville Township.	00:29:28
	Greenville Town's current rate is 1.7243.	00:29:33
	The current impact to them would be about a 3.7% change in the bill.	00:29:37
	And Lafayette Township change would be about a 3.8% change.	00:29:42
	So we have I have some examples coming up.	00:29:47
	Of.	00:29:49
	Different home values and.	00:29:50
	Property values and what these changes would look like.	00:29:52
	But we don't. We can't give every possible.	00:29:54
	Property value.	00:29:57
	So if your property value is not one of the ones I tell you.	00:29:58
	You can look at these town.	00:30:01
	These percentages.	00:30:03
	That are here at the bottom of these last two pages.	00:30:04
	So if you live in Greenville Township.	00:30:07
	And say your house is worth $175,000 which is, I know not one of the examples that I have.	00:30:10
	You could take your 2026 tax bill.	00:30:15
	Multiply it times 1.038.	00:30:18
	And that would give you an idea of what your bill.	00:30:22
	The maximum your bill would be with the fire territory.	00:30:25
	Again, if other units make changes.	00:30:28
	That would not be considered because we don't know what those would be.	00:30:30
	On the next page, this is just a summary so you don't have to go back and look for all of them. They're right here. They all are	00:30:37
	27/28/29.	00:30:41
	What we expect those changes to be.	00:30:44
	So because of.	00:30:47
	Assumed increases in assessed value.	00:30:48
	You'll notice in 28 and 29 is because everybody is now on the same tax rate.	00:30:51
	For all those taxing districts and all these units.	00:30:55
	Everyone would see roughly.	00:30:59
	A very similar decrease.	00:31:01
	From either 3/10 of a percent or 4/10 of a percent the second year in 2028.	00:31:04
	And then the same thing pretty much in 2029.	00:31:09
	So now we're going to some of our examples.	00:31:13
	So again, this is a summary.	00:31:18
	On page.	00:31:20
	18.	00:31:21
	Down the left hand side.	00:31:24
	We have the units.	00:31:25
	Whether you're Georgetown Township, Georgetown Town, New Albany Township, et cetera, or Lafayette Township.	00:31:27
	And then those changes.	00:31:33
	The change percentages from the previous pages.	00:31:35
	So if you.	00:31:38
	And then?	00:31:39
	The first kind of Peach color header block there is for $150,000 home.	00:31:40
	So if you are in Georgetown Township.	00:31:46
	And.	00:31:49
	You would experience roughly about a $14.00.	00:31:51
	Annual umm.	00:31:54
	Decrease. That's not every six months.	00:31:55
	That's $14.00 across the year, about a dollar a month.	00:31:57
	Decrease in your tax bill.	00:32:00
	Because of this.	00:32:02
	Fire territory consolidation.	00:32:04
	Conversely, if you live in any of.	00:32:07
	Current Highlander.	00:32:09
	Taxing units.	00:32:11
	You have about a 3.8% increase.	00:32:13
	That's roughly $3 a month.	00:32:15
	Or $39.00 a year.	00:32:17
	And then you can see the next section over is.	00:32:21
	Zillow told us the average home price is in this area.	00:32:23
	Of $267,100.	00:32:27
	So there your tax bill would change if you're in the current.	00:32:31
	Georgetown Township or New Albany Township District.	00:32:33
	You would decrease by about $29.00 annually.	00:32:36
	If you're in Greenville Township in your.	00:32:40
	Value is somewhere in that neighborhood.	00:32:43
	You would have an increase of about $83 a year.	00:32:45
	If it's a $300,000 home.	00:32:48
	The change would be about $34 a year.	00:32:51
	Decrease.	00:32:53
	For the.	00:32:54
	To current fire territory districts and then.	00:32:55
	About a $95 increase annually.	00:32:59
	Or roughly $8 a month.	00:33:01
	For the.	00:33:03
	Highlander units.	00:33:05
	So the next 6 slides.	00:33:08
	There's one for each.	00:33:09
	Of the six.	00:33:11
	Whether it's.	00:33:12
	Georgetown Town. Georgetown Township.	00:33:13
	New Albany Township. Greenville Greenville Township.	00:33:15
	Or Lafayette Township.	00:33:18
	To show the breakdown of the tax rate. Like how does it? How does it work?	00:33:20
	So if your home is at that $267,000.	00:33:24
	100,000 or $267,000 mark that.	00:33:28
	Zillow says is the average.	00:33:32
	When you pay your tax, your tax bill currently for this year should be $2298.	00:33:35
	Of that 2298.	00:33:41
	That big?	00:33:45
	Yellowish.	00:33:46
	Goldish item there to the upper left. That's the New Albany school.	00:33:47
	So the bulk of your tax?	00:33:51
	Taxpayer payments, excuse me, are going to the school.	00:33:52
	There's a small lighter blue area there that goes to the library.	00:33:56
	Then Floyd County itself.	00:34:00
	Has.	00:34:02
	That somewhat darker blue area.	00:34:03
	It was a very tiny, tiny, thin line there that goes to Georgetown Township for other Township functions.	00:34:05
	Such as?	00:34:11
	Potentially cemeteries or Township assistance.	00:34:12
	And then that sort of spotted.	00:34:16
	Red 1 is what you're currently paying for FIRE. So out of that current 2200 almost $2300 tax bill.	00:34:18
	505 dollars is going.	00:34:25
	To the fire territory.	00:34:27
	Now on the next page over when we consider that.	00:34:30
	Or the next side of this page when we consider that small that decrease.	00:34:34
	That the current territory members are likely to see.	00:34:38
	The only shift that we would.	00:34:41
	Would see would be in that fire area.	00:34:43
	Because the school is going to stay the same.	00:34:45
	Township's going to stay the same. The library is going to stay the same.	00:34:48
	That the fire will now be about $476 instead of 505 dollars.	00:34:51
	And it's the same story.	00:34:58
	On all of the subsequent ones, the next page is Georgetown Town.	00:34:59
	Again, because you have the same rate.	00:35:03
	Although the total tax bill is different.	00:35:06
	The same amount is going to fire, so it's currently 505 dollars.	00:35:08
	To the territory.	00:35:12
	476 dollars under.	00:35:13
	The revised territory or the amended territory?	00:35:15
	So if we jump on the next page.	00:35:19
	Is umm.	00:35:21
	Greenville Township.	00:35:22
	That's District 04, yeah.	00:35:24
	So this one.	00:35:26
	Greenville Currently their tax bills are going to the school.	00:35:29
	To the.	00:35:34
	Library.	00:35:35
	And to Floyd County.	00:35:36
	So when Greenville Township joined the district.	00:35:38
	They no longer have any other levies because, much like I said here, levees can't be duplicated.	00:35:42
	Their existing levy.	00:35:47
	As a Township for fire was removed.	00:35:49
	And it was replaced with the Highlander district levy.	00:35:52
	So currently.	00:35:55
	Under Greenville Township would be paying roughly $383 for fire.	00:35:58
	Under the.	00:36:02
	Territory, it would be about 476.	00:36:04
	Again, this is these are all on the 267.	00:36:07
	$1100 homes.	00:36:10
	So and then if we look at.	00:36:13
	The next one, which is Greenville Town.	00:36:15
	Again, they have an addition now they have the town levy is sort of that bright greenish yellow.	00:36:17
	There at about 5:00.	00:36:22
	And then the orange.	00:36:24
	Spotted area.	00:36:26
	Is still again they're paying the same amount for fire service even though their tax bill amount is different.	00:36:27
	They're paying the same amount for fire service.	00:36:32
	Of $383.	00:36:35
	And then it'll be 476 under the territory.	00:36:37
	And find the last ones. Lafayette Township and it is set up the same way.	00:36:41
	We do show the portion in there that's the debt.	00:36:46
	For them currently for Lafayette.	00:36:49
	Township.	00:36:51
	And then the last one is the New Albany.	00:36:54
	Township.	00:36:56
	And again we show the small portion they have for debt, but they are then again the same as Georgetown Township in Georgetown	00:36:57
	Town.	00:37:01
	Next page.	00:37:08
	Are sort of.	00:37:09
	Illustrative examples again.	00:37:11
	Did I go the wrong way?	00:37:13
	And other property types.	00:37:16
	So this one's where we talk about.	00:37:18
	Land. Agricultural land.	00:37:19
	Or a second home, like a residential rental property.	00:37:22
	Or a commercial property.	00:37:25
	So if you have a $100,000 piece of farm property.	00:37:27
	Regardless of how many acres that is, if it's valued at $100,000 total.	00:37:32
	They would see that decrease.	00:37:37
	Like on the other like in the Homestead properties.	00:37:39
	So their decrease would be about $23 a year.	00:37:42
	And then for the.	00:37:45
	Existing Highlander or current Highlander district.	00:37:47
	Properties, they would see about a $64 increase.	00:37:50
	If you have a $300,000 rental home or a $300,000 vacation home here, that falls into.	00:37:54
	Any of the these districts or.	00:38:02
	Current fire districts if you are in.	00:38:04
	The Georgetown, New Albany.	00:38:06
	The current Floyd County fire territory be about a $68 decrease for the year.	00:38:07
	If you are.	00:38:12
	The current Highlander district.	00:38:13
	Under the territory of about $193 increase for the year, first year.	00:38:15
	If you have a $500,000 commercial property, whether that's business, whether that's.	00:38:21
	A business in town or whether it's.	00:38:26
	A business that you have on your property. Anything that is considered.	00:38:27
	Non residential? Sort of.	00:38:31
	Other classification.	00:38:32
	Under the.	00:38:35
	Current fire territory.	00:38:36
	That decrease would be $114.00.	00:38:38
	And the Highlander.	00:38:41
	If they join.	00:38:42
	Would see an increase roughly of $322 or about $27.00 a month.	00:38:43
	So part of the presentation also has to be.	00:38:51
	How the formation of the fire territory potentially affects other units in the county.	00:38:54
	Because as I talked about that circuit breaker loss.	00:39:00
	By anytime in general.	00:39:04
	That levy is added at any place in the county.	00:39:06
	It increases.	00:39:10
	The tax.	00:39:11
	Rate it increases circuit breaker loss.	00:39:12
	Now at all. The actual final result all depends on how that works out against growth in assessed value.	00:39:15
	But we have an example of how we believe circuit breaker will change across the county for differing units.	00:39:21
	Because of the fire territory.	00:39:30
	So we've calculated 2026.	00:39:33
	Based upon estimates we have from the DLGF.	00:39:35
	Estimated 2027 based upon that when it says baseline, that would be leaving things as they stand right now.	00:39:39
	Meaning.	00:39:45
	Just the current Floyd.	00:39:46
	County Fire territory.	00:39:48
	With.	00:39:49
	Only the Georgetown District and the New Albany District as participating units.	00:39:50
	So if.	00:39:55
	If this doesn't go through 27 baseline is what it would look like leaving it alone.	00:39:56
	Georgetown.	00:40:00
	Would stay in that that district. Highlander would stay as an independent unit.	00:40:02
	And then we start under the blue header.	00:40:06
	What the changes would look like with the implementation of the fire territory?	00:40:08
	Again.	00:40:13
	If I put 25 on here.	00:40:14
	You would see that there's a huge jump.	00:40:16
	From 25.	00:40:19
	To the 26 baseline estimate.	00:40:20
	There's a lot.	00:40:23
	Change in.	00:40:24
	Circuit breaker across the county.	00:40:26
	That has nothing to do with the fire territory.	00:40:28
	So these base amounts have jumped up greatly because of SEA One or Senate enrolled Act One as it was adopted last year to.	00:40:31
	To modify or change or.	00:40:38
	Revised property tax here in Indiana.	00:40:41
	So if you're.	00:40:44
	Worried about the change to potential revenues for a particular entity like the library.	00:40:46
	We have right there.	00:40:51
	About 10 rows down.	00:40:52
	The Floyd County Library.	00:40:53
	We are estimating with.	00:40:56
	If the new territory, if the territory is not revised, their circuit breaker loss would be about $318,000.	00:40:58
	If the territory is.	00:41:05
	Formed and revised. Updated.	00:41:08
	Be about $326,000.	00:41:10
	So there would be a change obviously the larger the unit.	00:41:13
	The larger the change.	00:41:16
	So you see the New Albany School.	00:41:18
	New Orleans Floyd Consolidated School They have a.	00:41:21
	They have more circuit breaker to start with.	00:41:23
	So they have a larger change potentially.	00:41:25
	Because of the territory, right?	00:41:28
	The same with the county, even though their change is about.	00:41:29
	$40,000.	00:41:32
	Between baseline 27 and estimated first year of the Fire territory 27.	00:41:35
	So this is just a basic.	00:41:41
	Estimate of what those changes could look like because of.	00:41:43
	The influence of the fire territory on these other units.	00:41:46
	Now if you notice.	00:41:51
	When we look at the in the Peach lines there at the bottom.	00:41:53
	When we look at 2027 estimated.	00:41:57
	That line jumps up dramatically for the fire.	00:42:00
	Current fire territory. That's because basically you're taking.	00:42:02
	All of the circuit breaker that's currently attributable to the Highlander district.	00:42:06
	Except for their debt.	00:42:10
	And you're putting it on the fire territory.	00:42:13
	Because now that the fire territory.	00:42:16
	Will be bringing in that levy.	00:42:18
	Not the current, not Highlander district.	00:42:20
	So that's why that change looks kind of odd there. But if you look at the numbers.	00:42:23
	Based upon 27 baseline and you add.	00:42:26
	The Georgetown estimated 27 amount to the 27 estimate amount for Highlander District. It's roughly.	00:42:29
	With some inflation.	00:42:35
	What that 2027 fired?	00:42:36
	Like new fire territory number would be.	00:42:38
	We also have to talk about local income tax.	00:42:43
	Local income taxes are taxes on individuals paychecks.	00:42:46
	They are not property taxes.	00:42:49
	And they follow you back to where you live.	00:42:51
	So if you work over in Clark County.	00:42:54
	But live.	00:42:57
	Here Umm.	00:42:58
	Your local income tax that's taken out of your.	00:42:59
	Paychecks each.	00:43:01
	Pay period.	00:43:02
	Comes back to Floyd County.	00:43:03
	To then be.	00:43:06
	Distributed to units.	00:43:07
	Across the county.	00:43:09
	So the county currently has a number of types.	00:43:11
	Of local income tax in place.	00:43:14
	They have one called certified chairs.	00:43:17
	Which goes to.	00:43:19
	Pretty much all units in the county.	00:43:21
	I think except maybe the Solid Waste Management district.	00:43:23
	And if a Township doesn't have a levy?	00:43:26
	Because I mentioned Greenville doesn't have a levee.	00:43:28
	They don't get local income tax either, so you have to have a levy.	00:43:31
	To get local income tax.	00:43:34
	The other one's public safety.	00:43:37
	Public safety currently goes to the county and municipal units only.	00:43:39
	So it goes to Floyd County.	00:43:43
	Unit and it goes to.	00:43:45
	New Albany City, it goes to town of Georgetown, it goes to Greenville.	00:43:47
	It doesn't come to the.	00:43:50
	District. It doesn't go to any of the townships.	00:43:51
	There's also an economic development lit.	00:43:56
	That one also goes to the county and municipalities only.	00:43:58
	There's one called Correctional Facilities lit which only goes to the county.	00:44:03
	They only use that for the jail.	00:44:07
	There's one called property tax relief.	00:44:10
	Which that is an amount that.	00:44:12
	Basically.	00:44:14
	Goes back to all the units and looks like property tax, so the county is adopted to use this.	00:44:15
	10th of a cent rate.	00:44:21
	To help.	00:44:23
	Diminish the impacts of circuit breaker.	00:44:24
	So if it weren't there.	00:44:27
	And that goes to every tax bill across the county and then is divided up back amongst the units.	00:44:30
	So in a way, everybody shares that one.	00:44:36
	Then in the judicial system lit they have.	00:44:38
	41 hundredths of a percent.	00:44:41
	That one goes just to the county as well. That can be used for the county court system.	00:44:43
	So again, the next page details some of the changes that were made last year under Senate Enrolled Act One.	00:44:48
	The current lit structure information which I just.	00:44:55
	Went over.	00:44:58
	As of right now.	00:44:59
	Is set to expire.	00:45:01
	The end of 2027.	00:45:02
	And any impacts to lit?	00:45:05
	Are a year in arrears?	00:45:07
	So lit distributions in 27.	00:45:09
	Will be affected by levees in 2026.	00:45:12
	But.	00:45:17
	The whole the current system stops at the end of 27.	00:45:17
	After that, there's a new structure in place for the county to adopt differing rates, differing types.	00:45:21
	And for different uses for different units.	00:45:27
	That's at least almost two years away. We don't or.	00:45:31
	Well, year and a half of the time they have to adopt at the summer of 27.	00:45:34
	So we don't know.	00:45:38
	What those numbers are going to be?	00:45:39
	As of right now, we can say that because of the formation of the fire territory.	00:45:41
	It will not change lit distribution.	00:45:46
	Under the current system at all?	00:45:49
	Any future distributions?	00:45:53
	Would be affected only because there is an opportunity for the county to adopt A fire and EMS lit.	00:45:56
	That would go to the fire territory, potentially again if the county chooses to adopt it.	00:46:01
	So the next.	00:46:08
	3 pages.	00:46:09
	Just basically show.	00:46:11
	27 baseline looking like 27 estimated.	00:46:13
	Because it's not going to change because of the fire territory.	00:46:16
	If anything changes in these numbers.	00:46:19
	It would because be because of increased.	00:46:21
	AGI or adjusted gross income.	00:46:24
	Across the county.	00:46:26
	That's what builds the pool.	00:46:27
	For then and then how it gets distributed?	00:46:30
	So only if that AGI changes right now would that make an effect in 27?	00:46:32
	Nothing in the fire territory.	00:46:37
	We'll make a change in 27.	00:46:38
	The final type of revenue we want to look at.	00:46:42
	Is for the vehicle excise taxes that I mentioned.	00:46:44
	Early on.	00:46:47
	So here.	00:46:51
	We have again estimates of.	00:46:53
	What they would be without the territory.	00:46:56
	In 27.	00:47:00
	And then how it would change?	00:47:02
	In 2728 and 29 with the fire territory.	00:47:04
	So this tax is.	00:47:09
	Dispensed throughout the county based upon relative proportion of levy.	00:47:11
	So if the fire territory.	00:47:16
	The new, newly formed fire territory.	00:47:18
	Currently.	00:47:20
	Maybe in 26 has 10% of all the levy in the county.	00:47:21
	But in 27 it has 12% of all the levy in the county.	00:47:24
	There would you would see an increase in the distribution to the fire territory.	00:47:29
	Because they have.	00:47:34
	A larger relative proportion.	00:47:36
	Of Levy, so they would get a larger relative proportion of that revenue when it comes back from the motor view.	00:47:38
	Vehicle Bureau back to the county.	00:47:43
	Again, because New Albany and Highlander.	00:47:46
	Will have only debt levies at that point they would have a smaller.	00:47:49
	Portion so.	00:47:53
	That that amount that would have originally been attributed to Highlander gets.	00:47:55
	Distributed back to the territory and then amongst other units in the county. So some have an increase the first year.	00:47:59
	And then decreases in subsequent years.	00:48:05
	Like for example, the county you know.	00:48:07
	We're estimating they would have about $1,106,000 in 27 and then they would drop to about.	00:48:09
	$1,102,000 in 2028.	00:48:15
	So that concludes.	00:48:21
	The financial.	00:48:24
	Presentation for this evening.	00:48:26
	And I believe now they will be opening the floor for public comment.	00:48:28
	The attorney has some words. Sorry.	00:48:37
	He's just too dark to the.	00:48:45
	You can put the interlocal up.	00:48:48
	1st.	00:48:49
	Good evening. I promise to be brief.	00:48:52
	Which is difficult for attorneys sometimes.	00:48:55
	But my name is Keith Pulliam.	00:48:57
	I'm with the law firm Stall Keenan Ogden.	00:49:00
	I am the attorney for Georgetown Township Fire Protection District, which is the provider unit under the current fire.	00:49:02
	Territory, uh.	00:49:09
	And from a legal perspective, there are really just two documents that are involved in this process. The 1st is what's called.	00:49:10
	And Interlocal Cooperation Agreement.	00:49:20
	And that is a contract.	00:49:23
	If you wanted.	00:49:26
	Brief description A contract between the participating units.	00:49:27
	As to how they are going to.	00:49:32
	Run the fire territory.	00:49:34
	So you heard in the prior presentations that.	00:49:36
	There are three participating units if Highlander chooses to join and and the.	00:49:39
	Fire territory is expanded. There would be 3.	00:49:44
	For Georgetown.	00:49:47
	Highlander and New Albany Township.	00:49:49
	And there would be 1 provider unit which is currently Georgetown.	00:49:51
	Township Fire Protection District.	00:49:55
	So we talked earlier about.	00:49:58
	How there can't be duplicate levies?	00:50:01
	So when the fire territory was formed.	00:50:03
	The two districts.	00:50:06
	Involved agreed by this interlocal agreement.	00:50:09
	To contribute.	00:50:12
	Their monies towards the fire territories.	00:50:14
	And if it was to be expanded?	00:50:17
	The same would be true there.	00:50:20
	There will be 1 operating fund and there's one equipment replacement fund.	00:50:22
	The Interlocal Cooperation Agreement would establish a joint board.	00:50:27
	And the joint board would consist of nine members, 3 each.	00:50:32
	From the participating units.	00:50:36
	And one.	00:50:38
	Additional sitting Member, which is a Commissioner.	00:50:39
	That would be appointed as an EMS advisory member.	00:50:42
	The joint board would then appoint a chair, a vice chair and a secretary.	00:50:45
	And that joint board?	00:50:50
	Would have.	00:50:52
	More or less all administrative, budgetary and fiscal property are powers and responsibilities.	00:50:52
	Moving forward.	00:50:58
	Again.	00:50:59
	This is not a merger, This is not a consolidation per se. It is a contract between the three districts. So it's important to	00:51:00
	understand that the three districts will continue to exist.	00:51:05
	And their boards will continue to exist moving forward.	00:51:11
	So this contract just stays in place?	00:51:15
	To govern what their responsibilities are as we move forward.	00:51:17
	Moving forward.	00:51:22
	If Highlander were to join.	00:51:23
	Then Georgetown.	00:51:25
	Township Fire Protection District as a provider unit.	00:51:27
	Which is operating under the name of Floyd County Fire Territory.	00:51:30
	Would then employ the firefighters that are currently employed.	00:51:35
	By Highlander and they would become part of the overall territory. Oh, I didn't realize I could Scroll down that way.	00:51:39
	That's OK.	00:51:47
	So if we're if we're moving forward here, that was.	00:51:48
	Anyway, that's on page three. You're actually.	00:51:53
	Probably with me there.	00:51:55
	If you go down to the Joint board on Article 2.	00:51:58
	And these documents, these are available for inspection.	00:52:01
	If you want to inspect them, you can.	00:52:05
	You can come see me after the meeting or you can come up and see a copy.	00:52:07
	But so again, joint boards will have the 10 members again we.	00:52:12
	We've kind of covered that if you go forward from there.	00:52:17
	We've covered the officers.	00:52:23
	The board will be just like any other public board. It will have the public meetings with the same public.	00:52:26
	Open meeting requirements and.	00:52:32
	And there's the powers and duties of the.	00:52:37
	Of the Joint Board.	00:52:40
	Again.	00:52:42
	If we keep going here, let's stop. This is where I was Article 3.	00:52:43
	If Highlander were to choose to join the expanded fire territory.	00:52:49
	They would, effective January 1st, contribute their their monies and in essence, this is a distinction.	00:52:53
	They will not contribute all of their assets to the fire territory.	00:53:01
	They will make all of them available for use. So an important distinction with a fire territory is Georgetown has has contributed	00:53:05
	its funds, New Albany Township has contributed its funds.	00:53:10
	However, they each retain ownership.	00:53:16
	To their respective assets like fire stations, fire trucks, equipment, all of that sort of thing is still in the in the name of	00:53:18
	each district.	00:53:22
	And it is just being made for use by the fire territory.	00:53:26
	For so long as that fire territory exists.	00:53:31
	And that would be the ownership and control of separate assets.	00:53:34
	And.	00:53:38
	Moving forward.	00:53:39
	If there are additional assets that are acquired in the future, those would become.	00:53:41
	Territory assets that would be divided.	00:53:45
	And there's a framework that's set forth in this contract.	00:53:48
	As to how they would be divided if the territory is ever.	00:53:50
	Dissolved or if a party withdraws from the territory.	00:53:54
	And if you would just move forward for me there on the next page?	00:53:57
	The again.	00:54:05
	Because it's a territory.	00:54:07
	And because it is a contract.	00:54:09
	The respective fire districts can choose to withdraw from the fire territory.	00:54:12
	And that's what there's a distinction with respect to a.	00:54:17
	Consolidation, right? It's just a contract.	00:54:20
	Annually they could choose to withdraw if they were to.	00:54:23
	To go through the process.	00:54:26
	And if you'll just Scroll down.	00:54:29
	Again, you can skip to the next document. That's the main contract that would be in place. It's very similar to the contract that	00:54:34
	exists today.	00:54:38
	As between the two.	00:54:42
	Current participants, but it is modified as to the board structure.	00:54:44
	Among other small things.	00:54:49
	The other.	00:54:51
	Document is.	00:54:53
	Just a resolution.	00:54:54
	Each of the boards that are here before you today would be required to adopt their own version.	00:54:56
	More or less of an identical.	00:55:02
	Resolution to choose to expand the territory and participate in that expanded territory. There's a second component of this.	00:55:04
	I think it was mentioned earlier there is a equipment replacement fund and that would be.	00:55:12
	Renewed, there would be a new one adopted that would include if Highlander chooses to join, it would include Highlander within the	00:55:17
	territory for purposes of that fund.	00:55:21
	And that resolution there's.	00:55:26
	Not a whole lot there, except it just specifies who the provider units are.	00:55:28
	Who the provider unit is? Who are? Who is the participating units?	00:55:32
	And it more or less adopts.	00:55:36
	The interlocal that we just discussed.	00:55:39
	As far as only one other housekeeping item, everybody.	00:55:43
	Here should have seen there's a copy of a notice of public hearings that was published in the newspaper.	00:55:48
	Just for housekeeping.	00:55:54
	I thought I would.	00:55:56
	Let the boards know that I have the publishers claim that shows the.	00:55:57
	That the notice was published on I believe January 16th.	00:56:04
	Oh, I'm sorry, I'm being corrected. January 13th of January 20th it did was published and we'll go ahead and make that part of the	00:56:10
	minutes tonight to reflect that being published.	00:56:14
	That concludes.	00:56:20
	My presentation.	00:56:22
	Thank you, Keith.	00:56:24
	Speaking of being corrected, I want to correct.	00:56:26
	Two things that I said incorrectly.	00:56:29
	During my presentation.	00:56:31
	The staffing is going to include three firefighters.	00:56:33
	On a shift at the Georgetown Downtown station.	00:56:37
	And the new station at Bud Rd.	00:56:40
	All other stations will have 4.	00:56:42
	So I believe I said the wrong numbers. That was my mistake and also.	00:56:44
	The patterning is going to be 24 hours on.	00:56:48
	72 off.	00:56:50
	And then 48 hours on, 72 off.	00:56:52
	And I I said 24 each so.	00:56:54
	Thank you for.	00:56:57
	Those that blew up my phone.	00:56:58
	Wonders of technology.	00:57:00
	One thing I do want to highlight just a little bit on the financial aspect is.	00:57:02
	The presentation of.	00:57:05
	How the impact to the community?	00:57:07
	Going to happen with the territory.	00:57:09
	Solely takes into account.	00:57:12
	That the only revenue that the territorial will get is from property taxes.	00:57:14
	Currently.	00:57:19
	Highlander District receives a significant portion of their budget through local income tax.	00:57:20
	That's going away.	00:57:25
	We don't know what that's going to look like in the future.	00:57:26
	But.	00:57:29
	We can't plan on that. So that's basically a worst case scenario.	00:57:30
	If we as a territory are able to get.	00:57:34
	Lit in the future.	00:57:37
	We would reduce.	00:57:39
	Property tax revenue that we collect.	00:57:40
	We made that commitment last year when we went through the process to create the territory.	00:57:42
	And this year, we told the state.	00:57:46
	We wanted to collect less property tax.	00:57:48
	Than we actually were allowed to.	00:57:51
	Because we still receive some lit.	00:57:53
	So that is a commitment that we made last year and we make that again as we go forward.	00:57:55
	And also one last point, the.	00:58:00
	Two districts that are.	00:58:03
	Participating in the territory currently.	00:58:04
	It was forecasted that the.	00:58:07
	Property tax levy to the Community would decrease.	00:58:09
	For the second year of the territory.	00:58:13
	That's because under statute, the first year you create a territory, you can collect what's called a cash balance.	00:58:15
	20%.	00:58:21
	20% last year, 20% extra so that you can pay your bills.	00:58:24
	As you start.	00:58:28
	You're not allowed to collect that in the future though.	00:58:29
	So the property taxes were forecast to go down.	00:58:32
	For Georgetown Township Fire Protection District.	00:58:35
	Members and.	00:58:38
	New Albany Township.	00:58:39
	Do we have the list of people signed up?	00:58:41
	Nobody's.	00:58:45
	OK, So what we'll do, go ahead and.	00:58:48
	Leave it there.	00:58:51
	Please sign up on the sheet. We have to keep a record of who actually speaks.	00:58:52
	Please come up to the podium, the microphone should be working.	00:58:57
	And I will.	00:59:00
	Keep track of three minutes. I'll tell you 30 seconds.	00:59:02
	Just so that you can.	00:59:05
	Know what timing is on.	00:59:07
	And as I said, if we.	00:59:08
	Go through everybody who wants to speak and want somebody else wants to speak again.	00:59:10
	Then we'll allow that opportunity.	00:59:13
	And this is an opportunity for you to comment.	00:59:17
	And if we've got?	00:59:21
	If you're ready.	00:59:22
	I'm sorry.	00:59:23
	Can you confirm?	00:59:25
	Highlanders tax rate? Are you sure it's .3? It's not .2 somet.	00:59:27
	The budget order that came out from the DLGF, I think it was last week or the week before.	00:59:31
	Has your rate at just it's a little over .3 because the you have a debt included as well. What is our current record taxing at	00:59:36
	right now?	00:59:40
	25 or.	00:59:45
	I mean the like I said, the the operating and.	00:59:47
	Cumulative portion I don't have your debt.	00:59:50
	Straight right at my fingertips.	00:59:53
	That your cumulative and operating portion for the 26 budget is Lafayette is the only.	00:59:54
	That has the dental bill.	00:59:59
	It's not, it's not how the Lafayette has it there. So the ad would be slightly different, but but on the whole.	01:00:00
	Assessed value.	01:00:07
	And the full operating for current Highlander?	01:00:08
	And we calculated based upon the budget order at .3039.	01:00:12
	But that's if you don't need.	01:00:17
	Certified Chairs.	01:00:18
	Yeah, yeah. That's only property. So let's, let's tell the public really what's going to happen to their taxes, our property	01:00:20
	taxes.	01:00:22
	If that's not the true story.	01:00:25
	True stories your property taxes currently.	01:00:27
	Are .23.	01:00:29
	And they're going to move to .3.	01:00:31
	Because the.	01:00:33
	The certified shares are going away.	01:00:34
	So if I'm a property owner.	01:00:36
	My property tax is going to go to 0.2 something.	01:00:39
	To .3.	01:00:41
	Right for 26 your tax rate for your Highlander district.	01:00:43
	Is .3.	01:00:49
	That count? Certified chairs? No, that's only property tax. I can pull up a copy of the budget order and show you what I'm talking	01:00:51
	about.	01:00:54
	That that does not include certified chairs. We didn't include certified chairs.	01:00:57
	Like.	01:01:01
	To support you and.	01:01:02
	Going forward.	01:01:04
	OK.	01:01:05
	But from what they're being taxed at right now, the jump is much larger because.	01:01:09
	The .3 hasn't hit them yet, yeah.	01:01:13
	Because I'm talking about 26, right? Right.	01:01:15
	Right, So they're they're actually increase that they're going to see from what they've actually gotten bills on now is going to	01:01:18
	be much larger.	01:01:20
	So you're saying you're 25 rate is .23? I think so in that.	01:01:24
	20 in that range.	01:01:29
	What happened to your read this year that it went to .3? I need to reach. I don't have that in front of me, that's why I'm asking.	01:01:30
	OK. So that's, I mean you just went by the budget order and what was on, I believe somebody gave us a copy of your 1782 notice, I	01:01:35
	think you did.	01:01:39
	Ford Levy was taken this year.	01:01:43
	Than in previous years.	01:01:46
	But I don't know that we.	01:01:48
	We don't necessarily have to tax to that levy.	01:01:50
	That you accepted it when you when you didn't respond to the 1782.	01:01:52
	Where somebody signed the 1782 and sent it back at the full amount.	01:01:57
	That's uh.	01:02:01
	What you will be levying after 26? OK, I have to check on that. I can't. I don't answer that. I don't. I don't for the budget.	01:02:02
	You know.	01:02:07
	With the current tax rate, I think for.	01:02:14
	Highlanders in the .23 range I think.	01:02:16
	What they're currently paying.	01:02:19
	OK, we'll try and make sure that we.	01:02:25
	Get the accurate information because that's what we want to make sure everybody gets.	01:02:27
	We do have an agenda period for board comments. That was a good clarification to ask, but.	01:02:32
	I'll ask him when somebody has something I want to say right now.	01:02:37
	There is an opportunity for board comments after the public comments.	01:02:39
	That's OK.	01:02:43
	So if everybody's in agreement with that.	01:02:44
	OK, public comments.	01:02:46
	If you could state your name when you come up and.	01:02:51
	Sure.	01:02:53
	My name is Chris Redden.	01:02:56
	I saw my name and address over there so hopefully.	01:03:00
	I don't get doxed or something stupid.	01:03:02
	Because really?	01:03:05
	I'm not comfortable with.	01:03:06
	Public speaking.	01:03:07
	But.	01:03:09
	I'm not here to ***** either, I'm just simply here that you asking.	01:03:10
	You listen and hear me out a little bit.	01:03:14
	Some of you all know me, most you know me, but I volunteer my time in this community.	01:03:16
	To make it a better place, I do it for the children.	01:03:20
	Everything else.	01:03:23
	One thing my property taxes this year was $17,140.	01:03:26
	My property insurance went up 72%.	01:03:31
	No fault of my own, just everybody else. Hail, damage, whatever else.	01:03:34
	My health insurance went up to $18,000 this year.	01:03:38
	Something's got to give.	01:03:42
	And I had to give up my health insurance this year.	01:03:44
	When I go home with health insurance, I can't afford it.	01:03:47
	Anymore and I volunteer my time on the screening, I don't have to get paid.	01:03:49
	I don't ask to to get on the news, I just do it to take care of the children and help out.	01:03:53
	And everything I've heard in here so far has just been about property taxes. Property taxes.	01:03:58
	Haven't heard one thing about.	01:04:03
	How the but combining the fire territory is actually.	01:04:05
	Improve service to our community.	01:04:09
	We just had a fire out in Greenville.	01:04:11
	And how many fire departments showed up?	01:04:14
	And we didn't need a fire territory to get that done. It was just simply.	01:04:16
	Community coming together when they needed help and it happened.	01:04:20
	And it seems like that this.	01:04:24
	Fire merger district is simply because.	01:04:26
	Of what happened at the state.	01:04:30
	With the property tax, the SB1 bill that's going to remove property taxes and now.	01:04:32
	This is a merger.	01:04:37
	Simply 4.	01:04:38
	Property tax grab. It's a money grab.	01:04:40
	Just what it seems like to me.	01:04:42
	I may be wrong.	01:04:43
	I don't know.	01:04:44
	But uh.	01:04:45
	You know, if you read the News and Tribune.	01:04:47
	And you go to the back of it, the information page back there, you see how many sheriff's cells there are.	01:04:49
	I don't know if you pay attention to it or not.	01:04:53
	When people look at sheriff sales, they say Oh well, they couldn't afford their mortgage, that's why it's getting sold.	01:04:56
	Well, the realistic part of it is is.	01:05:00
	Most people don't have 20% to put down on a home anymore.	01:05:02
	So they're getting private mortgage insurance?	01:05:05
	So guess what? Their house payment was $1000 a month.	01:05:07
	Well then all of a sudden, their property.	01:05:11
	Insurance goes up and their taxes go up.	01:05:13
	Now their house payments $1500 a month.	01:05:15
	Guess what?	01:05:18
	Can't afford it anymore?	01:05:18
	And guess what?	01:05:20
	And somebody comes and takes their property from.	01:05:21
	So all I'm asking.	01:05:23
	It seems like a little bit.	01:05:26
	Like we don't reward fiscal responsibility anymore.	01:05:28
	It's this this area didn't do well managing their funds, and now we got this area that does. We're going to merge them together	01:05:31
	and now we're going to pay more.	01:05:36
	Because these people didn't.	01:05:40
	And so I don't, I mean, I don't know.	01:05:42
	That's just what I got to say, I mean.	01:05:46
	Probably this is already a foregone.	01:05:48
	Conclusion about what's going to happen.	01:05:50
	But.	01:05:52
	I'm really.	01:05:53
	Just tired of the property taxes to be honest with you. I wish that somebody would.	01:05:55
	Be a little more creative.	01:05:58
	Figure out a way that we could tax the people.	01:06:00
	So that you can pay for fire.	01:06:02
	EMS.	01:06:04
	And the police?	01:06:06
	And then it's responsible. You know, it's kind of like, as I say.	01:06:08
	If somebody comes into my property in my garage and steals something from me, it ****** me off. If they would just ask, I'd	01:06:12
	probably give it to him.	01:06:15
	You know.	01:06:19
	And the same thing is with the.	01:06:19
	With this, I don't know why we can't.	01:06:21
	Ask our community.	01:06:23
	To support what we need.	01:06:24
	So again.	01:06:27
	Not ******** I just.	01:06:28
	Really want to get rid of the property tax thing. I don't know if there's a way if there's a will.	01:06:30
	But it's.	01:06:34
	Existentially, uh.	01:06:36
	Is taken away our right to live almost.	01:06:37
	You know there's three things you need to live and if you.	01:06:40
	If you go in the wilderness.	01:06:42
	Food, water, shelter.	01:06:44
	Right.	01:06:46
	And when you tax our property, you're taking our chance to survive.	01:06:47
	With our property.	01:06:50
	Thank you, Mr. Edmond.	01:06:52
	Thank you.	01:06:53
	Angie, does anybody else sign up?	01:07:00
	Mark Who, Lafayette Township.	01:07:07
	First thing, Matt.	01:07:10
	Touch base on last month or.	01:07:11
	Our tax, our rates were 21 and a half cents and.	01:07:13
	Matt jumped on it here a while ago because they raised it to.	01:07:18
	.3039.	01:07:21
	And it was .215.	01:07:23
	A month ago.	01:07:26
	So then the other thing, the main thing I want to talk about is the board's.	01:07:27
	10 member Board.	01:07:32
	Every you got 10 members.	01:07:35
	On the board where it sounds.	01:07:38
	And so.	01:07:41
	I thought it was going to be done evenly, where everybody's represented from each Township.	01:07:44
	And you got three, you know, three members from Georgetown, three members from New Albany Township, three members from Highlander	01:07:49
	Fire.	01:07:52
	So I think, I think the Lafayette Township and Greenville Township is coming up short on representation on the board.	01:07:56
	Because I don't know what three members we're going to use.	01:08:03
	For the for the new board.	01:08:06
	But we don't have one Lafayette Township member on our board.	01:08:08
	So Lafayette Township should have three members. Greenville Township should have 3 members.	01:08:12
	And that's what I want you all to take into consideration because I think that's lopsided.	01:08:17
	Thanks.	01:08:24
	Thank you.	01:08:25
	Angie, did anybody else sign up?	01:08:33
	OK, last chance.	01:08:35
	Public comments.	01:08:37
	Officially closed public.	01:08:43
	OK. We'll officially close public comments. Thank you for those that spoke.	01:08:45
	And our last agenda item for the meeting?	01:08:49
	Is board comments so I'll.	01:08:52
	Look down here to my right first and start on the side of the table.	01:08:54
	I'll come back down here to the left.	01:09:03
	I jumped ahead. I'm sorry.	01:09:06
	Well, I'm going to jump in here briefly.	01:09:17
	One thing that hasn't been discussed is ambulance service in the county.	01:09:20
	And right now?	01:09:25
	Our department has a contract to serve.	01:09:29
	Our area for ambulance service.	01:09:32
	That is going away.	01:09:35
	The Commissioner's intent, as I understand it.	01:09:37
	Is then to go to a.	01:09:39
	Countrywide ambulance service.	01:09:42
	The alternative would be a private ambulance service and I think there's a distinct distaste in this.	01:09:44
	Area for private.	01:09:51
	Ambulance services. I'm a new member to the board, I've only been on a year.	01:09:53
	But I've got a.	01:09:59
	I've got to tout the success.	01:10:01
	Of our department for ambulance service.	01:10:03
	I think everybody agrees that it's top notch outfit.	01:10:06
	And when you're maybe in the worst day of your life.	01:10:10
	And you give them a call, they're there to serve you and very professionally. And I commend all my people for that so very much.	01:10:14
	So the county intends.	01:10:22
	My understanding is.	01:10:23
	The county intention is then to.	01:10:26
	Take our ambulance service.	01:10:29
	And build upon to make a county ambulance service.	01:10:31
	And so that will be funded.	01:10:34
	By the statute.	01:10:39
	With a local income tax.	01:10:41
	So that will pull that.	01:10:44
	Piece out of.	01:10:46
	Our budget.	01:10:48
	To go to the but the far to.	01:10:49
	The ambulance service.	01:10:52
	As proposed, now will be part of the territory.	01:10:53
	So just one, I think that's.	01:10:58
	That wasn't addressing this.	01:10:59
	And I think it needs to be. It's a very important part of the.	01:11:01
	Service that will be.	01:11:04
	Provided.	01:11:06
	As proposed.	01:11:07
	I can speak to that real quickly if you want to.	01:11:12
	Matt, do you want? Did you have a comment?	01:11:15
	No, no, no please different one.	01:11:17
	Suzanne.	01:11:18
	Go back to the org chart.	01:11:20
	But it's found it different.	01:11:28
	So as was just described, we didn't make it a focal point of the discussion here because it's not been done.	01:11:32
	And then nothing's been.	01:11:38
	Decided.	01:11:40
	There are conversations going on.	01:11:41
	And I would say that there are plans being discussed, but.	01:11:43
	In full transparency.	01:11:46
	If you look on the far right hand side of this org chart.	01:11:48
	It's basically. I'll start here.	01:11:51
	The plan for 2027 is that there would be 3 divisions within the fire territory.	01:11:53
	Suppression division of support division and an EMS division.	01:11:59
	So the EMS division.	01:12:03
	Would be separate from firefighting.	01:12:06
	It would be civilian employees, not firefighters. It'd be EMS professionals.	01:12:08
	Who would be provided the resources and?	01:12:13
	The training and the opportunity to be the best EMS service that.	01:12:17
	This county's ever seen.	01:12:21
	A lot of those people are probably going to be the people in doing it.	01:12:23
	With Highlander.	01:12:26
	So it is there. The intention though is that it would be funded by a different revenue source.	01:12:28
	Then the fire territory levy.	01:12:34
	Again, it has not been finalized or.	01:12:39
	Or is a thing that's.	01:12:42
	Been agreed to.	01:12:43
	But there are efforts and plans moving forward to try and accomplish it.	01:12:45
	But that's all the information really that I can say right now about it.	01:12:50
	So Matt, did you have something?	01:12:55
	No, my my question is probably a bigger fold here.	01:12:57
	How do we?	01:13:01
	Push the Council.	01:13:03
	To use their power with the lids to offset the increase in the property tax from the certified shares going away.	01:13:04
	We're doing a dis justice.	01:13:10
	If we don't make that push.	01:13:12
	Otherwise, we're going to make it easy.	01:13:14
	For the Council.	01:13:16
	Just to raise the property taxes and not fund it through lits which it.	01:13:17
	Currently it's happening today.	01:13:21
	I think that.	01:13:25
	As we move forward, it's going to have to be in partnership with county leadership.	01:13:26
	If we're going to be a county wide.	01:13:30
	Territory.	01:13:32
	Was a component of EMS.	01:13:33
	We're not our own little entities that will just kind of go do our own business and we're not working with the county leadership.	01:13:36
	So in addition to the Council.	01:13:41
	Working with the commissioners, the executive branch.	01:13:44
	3 entities would have to work together very closely on what?	01:13:47
	Is the vision and the long range plan to make this the best that it can be for our community?	01:13:50
	Unfortunately, the Council's hands have gotten tied pretty bad by Senate Roman Act One.	01:13:55
	And I'm not an expert in taxes or.	01:14:00
	Legal.	01:14:03
	I leave that to the experts.	01:14:03
	But the ability for the Council to enact.	01:14:05
	Newts.	01:14:07
	Under SCA one.	01:14:08
	Is restricted from what they used to be able to do.	01:14:10
	There is one lit.	01:14:13
	As Susan identified, that's an EMS fire.	01:14:14
	Lit it's capped at a certain amount.	01:14:18
	Some of the discussions that.	01:14:21
	I have had people tell me is that if.	01:14:23
	We move forward adding EMS to the territory.	01:14:25
	There is.	01:14:29
	Acceptable agreement within the Council and the Commissioners.	01:14:31
	To enact that.	01:14:34
	Fire, I'm sorry, EMS and fire lit.	01:14:35
	If we.	01:14:40
	Run an EMS service that has a billing component.	01:14:42
	That would.	01:14:47
	Bill people that use the service.	01:14:49
	There's a commitment and a promise that's been made that.	01:14:52
	If an individual needs an ambulance and they come and they transport them to the hospital, they would get billed.	01:14:56
	For what their insurance company could pay.	01:15:01
	They would not get Bill.	01:15:03
	Anything above what their insurance company could pay if they are resident of Floyd County.	01:15:05
	Between the billing revenue.	01:15:11
	And the lit.	01:15:13
	There may be an excess of funds.	01:15:15
	To fund EMS.	01:15:17
	Legally, that could then Passover to the fire service.	01:15:19
	And help fund firefighting efforts.	01:15:22
	That would then allow us to lower the property tax levy.	01:15:24
	But I can't sit here and make any kind of promise or guarantee that we could.	01:15:28
	Go and get a separate lit.	01:15:33
	That would help reduce the property tax levy because I don't know that that legally exists at the current time.	01:15:35
	I do know there are a lot of people that are pounding the pavement in Indianapolis saying.	01:15:41
	OK, you created this mess, now you need to help us fix it.	01:15:45
	So I agree with you a whole.	01:15:48
	Hardly.	01:15:50
	I don't think it's appropriate to expect emergency services, which the entire county needs.	01:15:51
	That you only fund it with part of your community.	01:15:57
	Footing the bill?	01:16:00
	So in principle, I agree with you. I just, I can't sit here and say this is what we're going to do going forward though.	01:16:01
	How do we get them at the table now?	01:16:07
	Because if you make it easy on politicians now.	01:16:08
	They're going to take the easy way out later.	01:16:12
	Because they're not going to put a new lit in place if there's already a funding structure.	01:16:14
	So is there a method for us to?	01:16:17
	Get them to the bargaining table now.	01:16:19
	Before we go down that road.	01:16:21
	And follow up with that is the EMS.	01:16:23
	Fire and EMS lit have enough room.	01:16:25
	To fund all of EMS and part of fire.	01:16:28
	Again, I'm not leading that charge. I'm.	01:16:32
	Kind of getting spoken to.	01:16:35
	I believe that the sentiment is that yes.	01:16:36
	There is room.	01:16:38
	And that, as I said, both at the Commissioner and Council level, there is support.	01:16:40
	To move forward with that plan.	01:16:45
	But I can't say even more than that.	01:16:48
	How to make it happen?	01:16:50
	Continue to work with them respectfully show them that we're professionals and we know how to do our job.	01:16:51
	And that we need help to do it.	01:16:56
	The best way we can so we can support our community.	01:16:57
	And I think that they're going to respect that and work with us.	01:17:00
	Maybe it's a legal question. Is there a way to get them to the table now where they make the commitment now?	01:17:04
	They're they're asking us.	01:17:11
	To do this is there I would suggest that.	01:17:13
	I'll answer it this way.	01:17:17
	Those that are wanting to implement this plan.	01:17:21
	Concerning EMS.	01:17:24
	Are interested in having.	01:17:26
	Operational January 1st.	01:17:28
	2027.	01:17:30
	In order for that to happen.	01:17:31
	Several things have to happen between now and then.	01:17:33
	The only way that they would be able to have.	01:17:38
	The District.	01:17:41
	The technical providing.	01:17:42
	Agency or entity?	01:17:45
	Do EMS.	01:17:47
	Is if we enter into a contract.	01:17:48
	Sitting down and figuring out what the terms of that contract are is how we will be able to have that conversation.	01:17:51
	But I wouldn't advocate.	01:17:57
	Or suggest that it is ultimately in the best interest for.	01:17:59
	Everybody involved in this to.	01:18:03
	Get our pitchforks ready and.	01:18:07
	Try and get politicians to bend to our will. I'm, I'm, I'm not saying that, but I just know that.	01:18:08
	If you kick the can down the road, it becomes harder down the road.	01:18:13
	If they're at the table now and and say hey.	01:18:17
	All indications are yes, we we support offsetting the increase in the property taxes with the additional lit.	01:18:19
	Now we keep funding in the same ballpark.	01:18:26
	But I think.	01:18:28
	Asking them now.	01:18:29
	Go public or at least say yes.	01:18:30
	That is our intention.	01:18:33
	I think may go a long way to answering a lot of questions with the community.	01:18:36
	I hear your point.	01:18:41
	Anything else?	01:18:46
	OK.	01:18:51
	Motion.	01:18:53
	So you can do a.	01:18:54
	Most of the joint motion.	01:18:56
	All right, I'll entertain a joint motion from.	01:18:58
	Anybody and everybody to adjourn.	01:19:01
	All right. Then we are adjourned. Thank you, everybody. We appreciate your time this evening.	01:19:03

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Event transcript
	OK. Good evening, everybody.	00:01:32
	It's 5:30.	00:01:33
	We'll go ahead and get things started. Everybody's got busy lives, especially with all the work we've had to deal with with the	00:01:35
	storms.	00:01:38
	Past week.	00:01:41
	So let's please start with the pledge allegiance if you'll all join us.	00:01:42
	I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.	00:01:47
	And to the Republic for which it stands.	00:01:54
	One nation under God.	00:01:57
	Indivisible with liberty and justice for all.	00:01:59
	OK, for those up.	00:02:17
	Here when you speak since this is being live streamed.	00:02:19
	If you would use the microphone.	00:02:23
	And you need to touch the button in a little green light comes on.	00:02:25
	At the top.	00:02:28
	So I'll remind you if you forget, but if we can all try and do that, I would appreciate it.	00:02:30
	We'll start the meeting with getting a roll call from each of the three district boards.	00:02:34
	We'll start with Georgetown.	00:02:39
	My name is Michael Moody. I'm here.	00:02:41
	Kyle Johnson.	00:02:44
	Here Tom Fisher.	00:02:45
	And we're expecting one more to show up here in a little bit. We'll acknowledge that he's here, but we have a quorum for	00:02:47
	Georgetown.	00:02:50
	Highlander.	00:02:53
	Matt Smith here.	00:02:55
	Billy Stewart here.	00:02:58
	Bill Fender here.	00:03:00
	Heather Schonkwiler here.	00:03:01
	I should have one on zoom. Michael Bloom.	00:03:04
	If you can hear me, Michael Bloom here.	00:03:07
	And we're all 5 here.	00:03:09
	OK. Thank you very much.	00:03:14
	Mr. Smith, New Albany Township.	00:03:15
	I'm Scott Sears, chairman here.	00:03:23
	Ben Gate, vice Chair.	00:03:25
	Danny Jacobs is not.	00:03:29
	Kyle Lanu.	00:03:31
	And gib Kinney.	00:03:33
	So we have quorum also.	00:03:35
	OK, excellent. Thank you, everybody.	00:03:36
	The agenda is going to go as follow if you have not seen it.	00:03:40
	There'll be a short presentation on Floyd County fire territory expansion.	00:03:44
	And then we'll have the financial impact analysis presentation.	00:03:48
	A legal presentation.	00:03:51
	And then we'll have time for public comments.	00:03:53
	We have a sign up sheet over here on the desk if you would like to.	00:03:56
	Offer public comments. Please put your name on the sheet.	00:03:59
	And then we'll go down the sheet in order so everybody can have a chance.	00:04:02
	The way we've done this in the past, and seems to work pretty well, is.	00:04:06
	Will receive comments for three minutes.	00:04:10
	And then?	00:04:12
	That way we give a chance for everybody to do public comments.	00:04:13
	If there's time afterwards and somebody wants to say something, they can then.	00:04:16
	Sign their name back up again.	00:04:20
	And they'll have another 3 minutes.	00:04:22
	So we'll go ahead and start first.	00:04:24
	The reason that we're here is as required by state statute.	00:04:30
	To hold three public hearings to discuss the expansion of the Floyd County fire territory.	00:04:34
	To include Highlander fire.	00:04:39
	Protection District.	00:04:40
	So we're going to start with just a little bit of background. Not everybody is familiar with what we're doing or why we're doing	00:04:51
	it.	00:04:54
	A fire territory is an entity created by the state.	00:04:57
	Legislature.	00:05:01
	Where two or more taxing districts, which could be townships, municipalities or fire districts.	00:05:02
	That share physical boundaries.	00:05:07
	Can join together to form a fire territory.	00:05:10
	Or you can join an existing fire territory.	00:05:12
	Which is what we are.	00:05:16
	Talking about this evening.	00:05:17
	There are three fire districts in Floyd County.	00:05:19
	Georgetown, Highlander and New Albany Township.	00:05:21
	Georgetown and New Albany Township.	00:05:24
	Are already members of the fire territory.	00:05:26
	And I'll acknowledge board member Jeff McNulty.	00:05:31
	He can come on front.	00:05:34
	No hiding in the back.	00:05:36
	Likely excuse.	00:05:40
	A little bit of background in May of 2024.	00:05:42
	Normally Township.	00:05:45
	Fire Protection District approached Georgetown Township Fire Protection District about forming a fire territory.	00:05:46
	The Floyd County Fire Territory started operations.	00:05:52
	January 1st of this year.	00:05:55
	2026.	00:05:56
	Highlander Fire District has expressed an interest in joining the Floyd County.	00:05:58
	Fire territory as part of a large scale update to the fire and EMS for Floyd County.	00:06:02
	So why join a fire territory?	00:06:09
	That way you can better align the Fire Protection within the community.	00:06:12
	What the community needs.	00:06:16
	You can provide it a little bit better.	00:06:17
	You can provide consistent, professional Fire Protection for the county.	00:06:19
	And take advantage of operational efficiencies.	00:06:23
	And equipment, training, human resources and accounting.	00:06:26
	And also a goal that we have been discussing is working towards implementing closest station dispatch.	00:06:30
	The fire stations that exist in Floyd County are located where they are.	00:06:37
	By and large, the result of when Volunteer Fire departments.	00:06:42
	Were the only option.	00:06:45
	And that means sometimes.	00:06:48
	A facility.	00:06:50
	May not be as close to a house.	00:06:52
	Within a boundary.	00:06:54
	But with new technology and working with our partners and dispatch.	00:06:57
	We may be able to change that so that we can dispatch the closest station.	00:07:00
	Not just the one for the area where you live.	00:07:05
	Each fire district would be a participating unit.	00:07:10
	We would be expanding the territory to include Highlander Fire Protection District.	00:07:13
	Georgetown Particip.	00:07:17
	Protection District is the provider unit.	00:07:19
	And we'll continue in that role.	00:07:22
	We list the.	00:07:24
	Chief of the Department Ned Wiseman.	00:07:25
	And then Deputy Chief Franklin and Deputy Chief Barnes.	00:07:27
	Would then be part of the command structure.	00:07:31
	All current firefighters.	00:07:34
	For Highlander District and the territory.	00:07:36
	Would be employed.	00:07:39
	By the fire territory.	00:07:40
	And the existing 2023 collective bargaining agreement between the local.	00:07:42
	5393 and the Georgetown.	00:07:47
	Fire Protection District will remain the CBA for the fire territory.	00:07:50
	This is the.	00:07:56
	Proposed, uh.	00:07:57
	Org chart for the fire territory if Highlander.	00:07:58
	Joints.	00:08:01
	This can be a little bit.	00:08:05
	Of an eye chart, especially if it's not clear to you.	00:08:06
	We are able to answer questions about it.	00:08:11
	The fire territory.	00:08:14
	Will encompass 6.	00:08:18
	Fire stations.	00:08:19
	Each fire station.	00:08:21
	Will be staffed 24/7.	00:08:23
	The current proposal is that we work on a three.	00:08:26
	Crew rotation.	00:08:30
	A crew. B crew. C Crew.	00:08:33
	They worked for 24 hours.	00:08:35
	And then you start over again. So if Monday was a group.	00:08:37
	Tuesday was B Crew.	00:08:41
	Wednesday with C Crew.	00:08:42
	Then Thursday becomes a crew again, and it repeats itself.	00:08:44
	There would be.	00:08:49
	4 firefighters.	00:08:51
	On the ladders and two of the engines.	00:08:53
	And then at.	00:08:56
	Budd Rd.	00:08:58
	And.	00:08:59
	I don't want to say this wrong.	00:09:02
	One of the other stations they would have.	00:09:05
	I'm sorry there would be 5.	00:09:09
	Firefighters on the ladders.	00:09:11
	And.	00:09:12
	US150.	00:09:14
	And State Road 64.	00:09:16
	And station.	00:09:19
	Downtown Georgetown would have 4.	00:09:22
	And Bud Rd. would have 4 firefighters.	00:09:26
	There also would be a Fire Marshall.	00:09:29
	A major in charge of training.	00:09:33
	And the captain assisting with the major in the training.	00:09:35
	Support staff would be the.	00:09:39
	State required financial officer.	00:09:41
	And an admin assistant.	00:09:43
	The way that we would.	00:09:48
	Pay for all that.	00:09:49
	Is the proposed budget, which is also included in this presentation.	00:09:51
	There will be more information on financial matters when the Baker Tilly presentation comes next.	00:09:54
	This proposed budget.	00:10:01
	Has.	00:10:02
	80 firefighters.	00:10:03
	Not included in that number 80, for a total of 85 employees.	00:10:07
	Are the chief of the department.	00:10:11
	Two deputy chiefs and the two.	00:10:12
	Administrative staff.	00:10:14
	Members.	00:10:16
	The financial officer and the HR admin assistant.	00:10:17
	The process to expand the fire territory requires that you have three public hearings.	00:10:24
	This is the first one.	00:10:29
	In two weeks, with February 11th at the same time in place, we'll have the next one.	00:10:30
	And then two weeks after that, February 25th, same place and time, we'll have the third required meeting.	00:10:35
	And then the statute requires you to have an adoption meeting.	00:10:41
	Where each of the boards will vote on a resolution to expand the territory.	00:10:44
	And that again will be held in this room at My View Government Center at 5:30 on March 11th.	00:10:49
	If approved.	00:10:57
	Highlander Fire Protection District would join the fire territory and starting January 1st, 2027.	00:10:58
	11 months from now, roughly.	00:11:05
	Now Baker Tilley.	00:11:07
	Has been assisting us in doing the calculations on finances and the impact to the community.	00:11:08
	Baker Tilly is a top 10 worldwide CPA firm and preeminent advisory tax and assurance firm in Indiana.	00:11:15
	And Susan Cowan, senior manager, CPA.	00:11:21
	She will be presenting the Baker Tilly portion of the.	00:11:24
	Presentation this evening.	00:11:28
	So, Susan, Are you ready?	00:11:29
	Do you want the clicker?	00:11:35
	Yes.	00:11:36
	Good evening. I'm going to stand over here and not use a microphone, but I think I speak loud enough that everyone can hear me.	00:11:43
	You can't or something's not clear. Please raise your hand and let me know, Susan.	00:11:49
	Because we've got people online.	00:11:54
	I don't know if the room mics, yeah, but that would be perfect. Thank you.	00:11:56
	OK. So we'll go with that.	00:12:09
	As Michael said, I'm Susan Cowan.	00:12:13
	With Baker Tilly, yeah.	00:12:15
	Come here from Indiana.	00:12:17
	Excuse me, Indianapolis this evening. If you were at any of these meetings last year, you likely saw me as well. We assisted with	00:12:18
	the formation of the current fire territory.	00:12:23
	And we've just continued that this year now to add Highlander.	00:12:27
	To the existing fire territory.	00:12:31
	I brought copies of the presentation. There were some at each door. I'm not sure if there was enough or not if there weren't all	00:12:36
	units.	00:12:40
	Have an electronic copy.	00:12:43
	If you get.	00:12:45
	The attorneys or fired?	00:12:46
	District board individuals your names, they can get you an electronic copy.	00:12:48
	Of the report.	00:12:52
	This is the presentation, I'm sorry.	00:12:54
	So.	00:12:57
	Taxing units which are Highlander Fire District.	00:13:00
	Georgia Georgetown Township Fire Protection District.	00:13:04
	And the New Albany Township Fire Protection District.	00:13:08
	Are joining together.	00:13:10
	Under a statutorily.	00:13:12
	Controlled process called a fire territory.	00:13:14
	They already at some point in the past went through the fire district process to become fire districts.	00:13:17
	But now they are coming together to join a territory.	00:13:23
	Which again statute says is an allowable.	00:13:26
	Combination.	00:13:29
	Really. In Indiana?	00:13:31
	Legislation there is only.	00:13:33
	A couple ways.	00:13:36
	That units can consolidate in any way.	00:13:37
	To obtain more.	00:13:40
	Tax revenues.	00:13:42
	And fire service is the main.	00:13:44
	Function for which they can combine or consolidate.	00:13:47
	Whether it's as a district.	00:13:50
	Or a territory.	00:13:52
	So the option for the fire district.	00:13:54
	Is allowing them to request an increase in levy.	00:13:56
	From the Department of Local Government Finance.	00:14:00
	Or if I say the DLGF, that's what I'm referring to.	00:14:03
	They're the authority in the state.	00:14:06
	For approving property tax levies.	00:14:08
	Assigning property tax rates.	00:14:11
	And making sure that information is doesn't.	00:14:13
	This sent out across the state and available.	00:14:15
	So Michael's already explained.	00:14:19
	Otherwise, what this district is and what the plans are for the district and what the dates of the meetings are.	00:14:21
	So we don't need to really.	00:14:27
	Start at the beginning of the presentation.	00:14:28
	We can jump ahead to page.	00:14:31
	5, Slide 5.	00:14:34
	That's this one.	00:14:39
	So.	00:14:42
	The statute outlines the financial process to determine the allowable levy.	00:14:43
	That the units that are.	00:14:48
	Consolidating.	00:14:49
	To provide.	00:14:50
	Fire service can request.	00:14:51
	Part of the process is we have to determine what the units are currently paying.	00:14:54
	For get our levying.	00:14:58
	For fire service.	00:15:00
	Then we determine what the property tax rate would be.	00:15:02
	To support the new budget.	00:15:05
	That they have created.	00:15:07
	Then we determine what the gap is.	00:15:09
	Between the current tax rate.	00:15:12
	And the new tax rate for fire.	00:15:14
	And then estimate what future tax bills would be.	00:15:16
	For all types of property in Indiana.	00:15:19
	Was 1% homestead properties.	00:15:22
	2%.	00:15:25
	Either farmland or secondary residential like.	00:15:27
	Vacation homes or second homes?	00:15:30
	Or, umm.	00:15:32
	Assisted living facilities.	00:15:33
	Or then ultimately 3% properties.	00:15:35
	Those properties that are commercial.	00:15:38
	Or, uh.	00:15:40
	Items that fall in a business personal property nature.	00:15:40
	So we'll have examples here of how we've.	00:15:44
	Of what each tax bill looks like, and we'll trace the path of how we got there.	00:15:46
	So this is the first page, this one on page 6.	00:15:50
	Looks at what the current rates are for fire.	00:15:54
	The state just wrapped up it's.	00:15:57
	Process for the 2026 budget.	00:15:58
	The budgets were just approved for all three districts.	00:16:00
	Tax rates were set for those units.	00:16:04
	And the district tax rates?	00:16:06
	For the properties throughout the county.	00:16:08
	So the current.	00:16:11
	Fire territory.	00:16:14
	Between Georgetown Township Fire Protection District and New Albany Fire Protection District.	00:16:15
	Currently has total tax receipts. They're the column.	00:16:20
	Block on the left hand side of the screen.	00:16:23
	For this year, their revenues are $7,026,800 in property tax.	00:16:26
	They receive other revenues as well.	00:16:32
	Things like.	00:16:35
	Supplemental motor vehicle taxes because any unit in the state.	00:16:36
	Not just these districts.	00:16:39
	Get to.	00:16:41
	A portion of.	00:16:42
	The license tax that's paid when individuals go to the license branch to either put plates on their cars, their boats.	00:16:43
	Their planes.	00:16:49
	If this does not cause an increase to those fees.	00:16:51
	There's always an amount of it that comes back to the taxing units.	00:16:54
	It just slightly changes the allocation of those fees across the county.	00:16:57
	So they're receiving.	00:17:04
	In capital, that's their smaller red bar. At the top they have something called an equipment replacement fund.	00:17:05
	Which is the capital fund that's allowed to a fire territory.	00:17:10
	In order to accrue overtime to make larger capital purchases like buildings or vehicles.	00:17:13
	Those items are not allowed to be included in the operating levy.	00:17:19
	And the new levy that we're resetting at the operating level?	00:17:23
	Only certain things like recurring.	00:17:26
	Scuba packs or turn out gear?	00:17:29
	Those things that get replaced on a more frequent, sometimes annual basis because you're doing a chunk of them.	00:17:31
	Each year those things can be included in the operating levy.	00:17:36
	But buildings, trucks, those larger things cannot.	00:17:40
	So their capital portion?	00:17:44
	Is $598,400 and then the.	00:17:46
	Larger blue portion is their operating receipts.	00:17:49
	Then the smaller the next one on the right hand side.	00:17:54
	That's Highlander.	00:17:56
	Their current receipts this year are estimated at $5,455,000.	00:17:58
	Again for operating and capital.	00:18:03
	Capital receipts are about $437,600. Operating receipts are about $5,017,400.	00:18:06
	That comes out to a tax rate.	00:18:16
	The top green bar here is Highlanders rate. They currently have a rate of .3039.	00:18:19
	That's for their operating and they have a cumulative equipment fund as well.	00:18:25
	There is also a debt service levy fund.	00:18:30
	That is not included.	00:18:33
	Debt does not existing. Debt does not get pulled into the fire territory.	00:18:35
	So Highlanders debt will stay only with.	00:18:40
	The District.	00:18:43
	Rates are the communities that are within the District, rates that support Highlander.	00:18:45
	That's Greenville, Town of Greenville, Greenville Township.	00:18:49
	In Lafayette Township.	00:18:52
	So that debt portion until it's paid off, we have some information about that later in the in the presentation.	00:18:53
	Will stay only with the Highlander.	00:18:59
	Communities.	00:19:02
	New Albany also has existing debt.	00:19:04
	That stays with them this year as well.	00:19:06
	So it is not a part of the line at the bottom.	00:19:09
	This is the Floyd County.	00:19:12
	Territory Fire Territory rate for this year of .39.	00:19:13
	10.	00:19:17
	The next 3 pages.	00:19:20
	Detail the operating budget.	00:19:22
	That we were provided.	00:19:24
	If you have questions about that budget, those should be directed to Michael, to Mr. Moody.	00:19:26
	We pay attention to on the third page of the budget.	00:19:31
	Which is.	00:19:35
	Page 10.	00:19:37
	The blue line that says total operating budget.	00:19:38
	11,000,000 Nine 21367.	00:19:41
	Susan Jovi to click for you.	00:19:44
	Oh, sorry.	00:19:46
	On this page.	00:19:49
	That top blue line there is the budget that we are then facing.	00:19:51
	The new operating levy.	00:19:56
	For the combined the territory including Highlander.	00:19:58
	This page estimates roughly.	00:20:06
	What the revenues?	00:20:08
	Complete revenues of.	00:20:10
	The new territory will be.	00:20:12
	So we have what?	00:20:14
	An operating levy that we've calculated.	00:20:16
	Of uh.	00:20:18
	Roughly the first year 11,000,000 Three 53467.	00:20:19
	Based upon assessed value.	00:20:23
	That capital or the equipment replacement fund?	00:20:25
	Can only be at a maximum rate of .0333.	00:20:29
	And so based upon what we assume.	00:20:33
	Assessed values will be in 2027.	00:20:35
	That amount for capital would be roughly 1,000,128.	00:20:39
	1593 dollars.	00:20:42
	Now all units.	00:20:46
	In the state.	00:20:47
	Are affected by something called circuit breaker loss.	00:20:49
	That's the next next line, that negative amount.	00:20:52
	Each individual home.	00:20:56
	Is.	00:20:58
	You have you have a tax cap.	00:20:59
	Based upon.	00:21:01
	The assessed value of your home.	00:21:02
	So for example, if your.	00:21:04
	Home is worth $100,000. That's the tax value of your home the the basic assessed value that the county arrives at.	00:21:06
	If it's $100,000 you cannot pay more than.	00:21:13
	1%.	00:21:16
	Or $1000.	00:21:18
	On your tax bill.	00:21:19
	So if your tax bill calculates.	00:21:21
	Higher than that $1000.	00:21:23
	You don't pay it.	00:21:26
	And the.	00:21:28
	Governmental entities throughout the county don't receive it.	00:21:28
	So if your tax bill calculated out to 1200 dollars.	00:21:32
	That additional $2000.	00:21:35
	You would not have to pay that.	00:21:37
	That loss is then distributed across.	00:21:39
	The units that are part of your district rate.	00:21:42
	Because when you pay your property tax bills, that money doesn't go just one place.	00:21:45
	It goes to the county.	00:21:50
	It goes to the library, it goes to the school.	00:21:51
	It goes to a Township if you live in town, if you live in Georgetown.	00:21:54
	Or in.	00:21:57
	Greenville, it's going to go to the town.	00:21:58
	So the.	00:22:01
	That those tax payments are divvied up amongst all the units.	00:22:02
	And so is the loss.	00:22:05
	So because of some changes that were made last year in the state legislature.	00:22:08
	We anticipate loss increasing greatly over the next three to five years.	00:22:12
	So that line there of $1,176,608.	00:22:17
	Is a what we believe is a very conservative high end estimate.	00:22:23
	Of what this?	00:22:27
	Newly combined territory could expect to suffer circuit breaker loss next year.	00:22:29
	We haven't calculated tax bills yet even for 26, so we don't really know what 26 loss is going to be.	00:22:34
	To then translate that to 20.	00:22:39
	But all of the.	00:22:43
	Amounts that we show in here even when we get to tax bills.	00:22:45
	Should be considered a worst case scenario.	00:22:48
	Where if we're saying you might see a $30 increase, you may see because of a fire territory A10 or A-15 or a $20 increase.	00:22:50
	There's just a lot of things that have to be worked out that we can't.	00:22:58
	No, because we don't have a crystal ball to know how much a home is going to be worth specifically.	00:23:01
	In 2000 or?	00:23:06
	2027.	00:23:07
	Or any of those.	00:23:09
	Exactly what that circuit breaker loss comes out to be.	00:23:10
	So we recommend.	00:23:15
	Total, unless there's other revenues, if there's some other form of revenues, if the county provides other forms of revenues to	00:23:18
	the district or the territories, which they could.	00:23:22
	The budget may have to be cut.	00:23:27
	In 27 in future years.	00:23:29
	But.	00:23:32
	The DLGF does not allow making up.	00:23:33
	That circuit breaker gap.	00:23:36
	So we only calculate what the levy will be based upon the budget.	00:23:38
	The line there across the bottom.	00:23:43
	Estimates what the new tax rate will be in each of those years, again based upon.	00:23:46
	That levy.	00:23:51
	And the.	00:23:52
	Estimated assessed values.	00:23:53
	So the first year we estimate.	00:23:55
	That, umm.	00:23:57
	The territory rate would be .3683.	00:23:58
	The second year we recommend.	00:24:02
	Estimate that it would be .3617.	00:24:04
	And the third year .3552.	00:24:07
	You're seeing a decline.	00:24:10
	Even though the budgets are going up.	00:24:11
	Because there's an assumption of growth in net assessed value.	00:24:13
	If the growth in net assessed value is slightly different than this.	00:24:17
	The actual tax rates may be slightly different.	00:24:21
	The next page is where I reference we mentioned debt.	00:24:29
	So as I said.	00:24:32
	Neither the New Albany.	00:24:35
	District.	00:24:37
	Or the Highlander district can include their existing debt.	00:24:38
	In the operating levy for the new territory.	00:24:41
	There's some detail about the current.	00:24:45
	Debt New Albany.	00:24:46
	Will be paid off in 2029.	00:24:48
	Highlanders goes out through 2036.	00:24:50
	If in the future.	00:24:54
	It is determined.	00:24:55
	As I know.	00:24:57
	Right now, that's not under consideration.	00:24:58
	But if it were ever to be considered that any new debt needed to be issued, whether it was for a facility.	00:25:00
	Or for apparatus.	00:25:06
	Or anything of that nature.	00:25:07
	The territory itself.	00:25:09
	Cannot.	00:25:11
	Issue debt. It's not considered a governmental unit.	00:25:11
	The territory is a subunit.	00:25:15
	Of the provider unit, which is Georgetown currently.	00:25:18
	So it would be up to Georgetown.	00:25:22
	They could issue debt if.	00:25:24
	Necessary.	00:25:25
	On.	00:25:26
	The taxpayers within their rates.	00:25:27
	New Albany could also issue debt.	00:25:31
	Or more debt on taxpayers within.	00:25:33
	Their districts.	00:25:36
	And Highlander could do the same.	00:25:38
	But the territory in and of itself cannot issue 1.	00:25:40
	Piece of debt to encompass everyone in the territory.	00:25:43
	So now we have some examples of the estimated property tax liability.	00:25:50
	So.	00:25:56
	So currently.	00:26:00
	Part of the goal of a.	00:26:01
	Territory or a district?	00:26:03
	Is so that.	00:26:05
	All of the properties within.	00:26:06
	The units that are combining.	00:26:09
	To make the district or the territory.	00:26:11
	Pay the same rate.	00:26:13
	For fire service.	00:26:15
	So currently.	00:26:17
	Georgetown Township.	00:26:20
	And Georgetown Town, which are part of the Georgetown district.	00:26:21
	And New Albany.	00:26:25
	Township.	00:26:26
	As part of the New Albany Township District.	00:26:27
	Are paying the same rate for fire that was that.	00:26:29
	Bar that I showed you.	00:26:32
	A few slides back that .3910 this year.	00:26:33
	Whereas then.	00:26:37
	Greenville Township. Greenville Town.	00:26:38
	And Lafayette Township are all paying the same rate for fire currently that.	00:26:40
	$0.30 a little over $0.30 almost 31.	00:26:44
	Because they're all part of the same district.	00:26:47
	Now the district rates are different because again, it has to do with where the property is. Is it in town? Is it in the Township?	00:26:51
	Where exactly does it lie?	00:26:57
	So this first page.	00:27:00
	Look at.	00:27:02
	The This is the current fire territory.	00:27:03
	Georgetown.	00:27:05
	District and New Albany District.	00:27:06
	So if you live in Georgetown Township.	00:27:09
	Your current 2026 tax rate is 1.7772.	00:27:11
	If we.	00:27:18
	Because the statute says there can be no duplicate taxation, we have to remove.	00:27:18
	The current tax rate.	00:27:23
	Of .3910.	00:27:25
	And add in the new tax rate for the territory.	00:27:27
	At .3683.	00:27:31
	So it's a net change.	00:27:34
	For the individuals in the Georgetown district, that is actually a negative change, so it would.	00:27:36
	Make their.	00:27:42
	Because of the territory.	00:27:43
	That fire portion?	00:27:45
	Would drop.	00:27:46
	And yes, I know that we're only trying to isolate the impacts of the fire territory.	00:27:48
	Are there other things that could cause other changes on your tax bill?	00:27:53
	Yes.	00:27:57
	There are the.	00:27:58
	Value of your home could change or will change.	00:28:00
	The school could issue debt.	00:28:03
	Some other unit, the library, could issue debt.	00:28:04
	Somebody could.	00:28:07
	Add somebody else could make a fire turret. Well, I guess they couldn't. They couldn't overlap you. Sorry, that was a bad example.	00:28:08
	But other things could happen that could change your tax bill, but we're trying to look just at what would happen because of the	00:28:14
	territory.	00:28:17
	So because of.	00:28:21
	In Georgetown Township, we would expect potentially a 1.3%.	00:28:22
	Decrease to the tax rate.	00:28:26
	Because of the territory.	00:28:28
	For 2027.	00:28:29
	Then for Georgetown town.	00:28:33
	Their current tax rate is $2.00.	00:28:34
	And a little over almost $0.03.	00:28:36
	2.0287.	00:28:38
	When we pull out their current fire.	00:28:40
	Rate of .3910.	00:28:42
	Add in the .3683, you can see it's the same net change.	00:28:45
	Negative, uh.	00:28:49
	Their bill would drop roughly 1.1%.	00:28:50
	For New Albany Township.	00:28:53
	Based upon that same calculation.	00:28:54
	Their rate would drop to to about.	00:28:56
	One point.	00:28:57
	Probably about 1.3%.	00:28:58
	Then on the next page.	00:29:01
	Greenville Township.	00:29:03
	Greenville Township's current rate is.	00:29:08
	For 26 is 1.6829.	00:29:10
	So if we pull out their current 30.	00:29:13
	Little over 30 cents .3039. Replace it with .3683.	00:29:15
	That net impact is a change of a little over $0.06.	00:29:21
	.0644.	00:29:24
	That's roughly a 3.8% district.	00:29:26
	To the tax bills or district increase to the tax bills for Greenville Township.	00:29:28
	Greenville Town's current rate is 1.7243.	00:29:33
	The current impact to them would be about a 3.7% change in the bill.	00:29:37
	And Lafayette Township change would be about a 3.8% change.	00:29:42
	So we have I have some examples coming up.	00:29:47
	Of.	00:29:49
	Different home values and.	00:29:50
	Property values and what these changes would look like.	00:29:52
	But we don't. We can't give every possible.	00:29:54
	Property value.	00:29:57
	So if your property value is not one of the ones I tell you.	00:29:58
	You can look at these town.	00:30:01
	These percentages.	00:30:03
	That are here at the bottom of these last two pages.	00:30:04
	So if you live in Greenville Township.	00:30:07
	And say your house is worth $175,000 which is, I know not one of the examples that I have.	00:30:10
	You could take your 2026 tax bill.	00:30:15
	Multiply it times 1.038.	00:30:18
	And that would give you an idea of what your bill.	00:30:22
	The maximum your bill would be with the fire territory.	00:30:25
	Again, if other units make changes.	00:30:28
	That would not be considered because we don't know what those would be.	00:30:30
	On the next page, this is just a summary so you don't have to go back and look for all of them. They're right here. They all are	00:30:37
	27/28/29.	00:30:41
	What we expect those changes to be.	00:30:44
	So because of.	00:30:47
	Assumed increases in assessed value.	00:30:48
	You'll notice in 28 and 29 is because everybody is now on the same tax rate.	00:30:51
	For all those taxing districts and all these units.	00:30:55
	Everyone would see roughly.	00:30:59
	A very similar decrease.	00:31:01
	From either 3/10 of a percent or 4/10 of a percent the second year in 2028.	00:31:04
	And then the same thing pretty much in 2029.	00:31:09
	So now we're going to some of our examples.	00:31:13
	So again, this is a summary.	00:31:18
	On page.	00:31:20
	18.	00:31:21
	Down the left hand side.	00:31:24
	We have the units.	00:31:25
	Whether you're Georgetown Township, Georgetown Town, New Albany Township, et cetera, or Lafayette Township.	00:31:27
	And then those changes.	00:31:33
	The change percentages from the previous pages.	00:31:35
	So if you.	00:31:38
	And then?	00:31:39
	The first kind of Peach color header block there is for $150,000 home.	00:31:40
	So if you are in Georgetown Township.	00:31:46
	And.	00:31:49
	You would experience roughly about a $14.00.	00:31:51
	Annual umm.	00:31:54
	Decrease. That's not every six months.	00:31:55
	That's $14.00 across the year, about a dollar a month.	00:31:57
	Decrease in your tax bill.	00:32:00
	Because of this.	00:32:02
	Fire territory consolidation.	00:32:04
	Conversely, if you live in any of.	00:32:07
	Current Highlander.	00:32:09
	Taxing units.	00:32:11
	You have about a 3.8% increase.	00:32:13
	That's roughly $3 a month.	00:32:15
	Or $39.00 a year.	00:32:17
	And then you can see the next section over is.	00:32:21
	Zillow told us the average home price is in this area.	00:32:23
	Of $267,100.	00:32:27
	So there your tax bill would change if you're in the current.	00:32:31
	Georgetown Township or New Albany Township District.	00:32:33
	You would decrease by about $29.00 annually.	00:32:36
	If you're in Greenville Township in your.	00:32:40
	Value is somewhere in that neighborhood.	00:32:43
	You would have an increase of about $83 a year.	00:32:45
	If it's a $300,000 home.	00:32:48
	The change would be about $34 a year.	00:32:51
	Decrease.	00:32:53
	For the.	00:32:54
	To current fire territory districts and then.	00:32:55
	About a $95 increase annually.	00:32:59
	Or roughly $8 a month.	00:33:01
	For the.	00:33:03
	Highlander units.	00:33:05
	So the next 6 slides.	00:33:08
	There's one for each.	00:33:09
	Of the six.	00:33:11
	Whether it's.	00:33:12
	Georgetown Town. Georgetown Township.	00:33:13
	New Albany Township. Greenville Greenville Township.	00:33:15
	Or Lafayette Township.	00:33:18
	To show the breakdown of the tax rate. Like how does it? How does it work?	00:33:20
	So if your home is at that $267,000.	00:33:24
	100,000 or $267,000 mark that.	00:33:28
	Zillow says is the average.	00:33:32
	When you pay your tax, your tax bill currently for this year should be $2298.	00:33:35
	Of that 2298.	00:33:41
	That big?	00:33:45
	Yellowish.	00:33:46
	Goldish item there to the upper left. That's the New Albany school.	00:33:47
	So the bulk of your tax?	00:33:51
	Taxpayer payments, excuse me, are going to the school.	00:33:52
	There's a small lighter blue area there that goes to the library.	00:33:56
	Then Floyd County itself.	00:34:00
	Has.	00:34:02
	That somewhat darker blue area.	00:34:03
	It was a very tiny, tiny, thin line there that goes to Georgetown Township for other Township functions.	00:34:05
	Such as?	00:34:11
	Potentially cemeteries or Township assistance.	00:34:12
	And then that sort of spotted.	00:34:16
	Red 1 is what you're currently paying for FIRE. So out of that current 2200 almost $2300 tax bill.	00:34:18
	505 dollars is going.	00:34:25
	To the fire territory.	00:34:27
	Now on the next page over when we consider that.	00:34:30
	Or the next side of this page when we consider that small that decrease.	00:34:34
	That the current territory members are likely to see.	00:34:38
	The only shift that we would.	00:34:41
	Would see would be in that fire area.	00:34:43
	Because the school is going to stay the same.	00:34:45
	Township's going to stay the same. The library is going to stay the same.	00:34:48
	That the fire will now be about $476 instead of 505 dollars.	00:34:51
	And it's the same story.	00:34:58
	On all of the subsequent ones, the next page is Georgetown Town.	00:34:59
	Again, because you have the same rate.	00:35:03
	Although the total tax bill is different.	00:35:06
	The same amount is going to fire, so it's currently 505 dollars.	00:35:08
	To the territory.	00:35:12
	476 dollars under.	00:35:13
	The revised territory or the amended territory?	00:35:15
	So if we jump on the next page.	00:35:19
	Is umm.	00:35:21
	Greenville Township.	00:35:22
	That's District 04, yeah.	00:35:24
	So this one.	00:35:26
	Greenville Currently their tax bills are going to the school.	00:35:29
	To the.	00:35:34
	Library.	00:35:35
	And to Floyd County.	00:35:36
	So when Greenville Township joined the district.	00:35:38
	They no longer have any other levies because, much like I said here, levees can't be duplicated.	00:35:42
	Their existing levy.	00:35:47
	As a Township for fire was removed.	00:35:49
	And it was replaced with the Highlander district levy.	00:35:52
	So currently.	00:35:55
	Under Greenville Township would be paying roughly $383 for fire.	00:35:58
	Under the.	00:36:02
	Territory, it would be about 476.	00:36:04
	Again, this is these are all on the 267.	00:36:07
	$1100 homes.	00:36:10
	So and then if we look at.	00:36:13
	The next one, which is Greenville Town.	00:36:15
	Again, they have an addition now they have the town levy is sort of that bright greenish yellow.	00:36:17
	There at about 5:00.	00:36:22
	And then the orange.	00:36:24
	Spotted area.	00:36:26
	Is still again they're paying the same amount for fire service even though their tax bill amount is different.	00:36:27
	They're paying the same amount for fire service.	00:36:32
	Of $383.	00:36:35
	And then it'll be 476 under the territory.	00:36:37
	And find the last ones. Lafayette Township and it is set up the same way.	00:36:41
	We do show the portion in there that's the debt.	00:36:46
	For them currently for Lafayette.	00:36:49
	Township.	00:36:51
	And then the last one is the New Albany.	00:36:54
	Township.	00:36:56
	And again we show the small portion they have for debt, but they are then again the same as Georgetown Township in Georgetown	00:36:57
	Town.	00:37:01
	Next page.	00:37:08
	Are sort of.	00:37:09
	Illustrative examples again.	00:37:11
	Did I go the wrong way?	00:37:13
	And other property types.	00:37:16
	So this one's where we talk about.	00:37:18
	Land. Agricultural land.	00:37:19
	Or a second home, like a residential rental property.	00:37:22
	Or a commercial property.	00:37:25
	So if you have a $100,000 piece of farm property.	00:37:27
	Regardless of how many acres that is, if it's valued at $100,000 total.	00:37:32
	They would see that decrease.	00:37:37
	Like on the other like in the Homestead properties.	00:37:39
	So their decrease would be about $23 a year.	00:37:42
	And then for the.	00:37:45
	Existing Highlander or current Highlander district.	00:37:47
	Properties, they would see about a $64 increase.	00:37:50
	If you have a $300,000 rental home or a $300,000 vacation home here, that falls into.	00:37:54
	Any of the these districts or.	00:38:02
	Current fire districts if you are in.	00:38:04
	The Georgetown, New Albany.	00:38:06
	The current Floyd County fire territory be about a $68 decrease for the year.	00:38:07
	If you are.	00:38:12
	The current Highlander district.	00:38:13
	Under the territory of about $193 increase for the year, first year.	00:38:15
	If you have a $500,000 commercial property, whether that's business, whether that's.	00:38:21
	A business in town or whether it's.	00:38:26
	A business that you have on your property. Anything that is considered.	00:38:27
	Non residential? Sort of.	00:38:31
	Other classification.	00:38:32
	Under the.	00:38:35
	Current fire territory.	00:38:36
	That decrease would be $114.00.	00:38:38
	And the Highlander.	00:38:41
	If they join.	00:38:42
	Would see an increase roughly of $322 or about $27.00 a month.	00:38:43
	So part of the presentation also has to be.	00:38:51
	How the formation of the fire territory potentially affects other units in the county.	00:38:54
	Because as I talked about that circuit breaker loss.	00:39:00
	By anytime in general.	00:39:04
	That levy is added at any place in the county.	00:39:06
	It increases.	00:39:10
	The tax.	00:39:11
	Rate it increases circuit breaker loss.	00:39:12
	Now at all. The actual final result all depends on how that works out against growth in assessed value.	00:39:15
	But we have an example of how we believe circuit breaker will change across the county for differing units.	00:39:21
	Because of the fire territory.	00:39:30
	So we've calculated 2026.	00:39:33
	Based upon estimates we have from the DLGF.	00:39:35
	Estimated 2027 based upon that when it says baseline, that would be leaving things as they stand right now.	00:39:39
	Meaning.	00:39:45
	Just the current Floyd.	00:39:46
	County Fire territory.	00:39:48
	With.	00:39:49
	Only the Georgetown District and the New Albany District as participating units.	00:39:50
	So if.	00:39:55
	If this doesn't go through 27 baseline is what it would look like leaving it alone.	00:39:56
	Georgetown.	00:40:00
	Would stay in that that district. Highlander would stay as an independent unit.	00:40:02
	And then we start under the blue header.	00:40:06
	What the changes would look like with the implementation of the fire territory?	00:40:08
	Again.	00:40:13
	If I put 25 on here.	00:40:14
	You would see that there's a huge jump.	00:40:16
	From 25.	00:40:19
	To the 26 baseline estimate.	00:40:20
	There's a lot.	00:40:23
	Change in.	00:40:24
	Circuit breaker across the county.	00:40:26
	That has nothing to do with the fire territory.	00:40:28
	So these base amounts have jumped up greatly because of SEA One or Senate enrolled Act One as it was adopted last year to.	00:40:31
	To modify or change or.	00:40:38
	Revised property tax here in Indiana.	00:40:41
	So if you're.	00:40:44
	Worried about the change to potential revenues for a particular entity like the library.	00:40:46
	We have right there.	00:40:51
	About 10 rows down.	00:40:52
	The Floyd County Library.	00:40:53
	We are estimating with.	00:40:56
	If the new territory, if the territory is not revised, their circuit breaker loss would be about $318,000.	00:40:58
	If the territory is.	00:41:05
	Formed and revised. Updated.	00:41:08
	Be about $326,000.	00:41:10
	So there would be a change obviously the larger the unit.	00:41:13
	The larger the change.	00:41:16
	So you see the New Albany School.	00:41:18
	New Orleans Floyd Consolidated School They have a.	00:41:21
	They have more circuit breaker to start with.	00:41:23
	So they have a larger change potentially.	00:41:25
	Because of the territory, right?	00:41:28
	The same with the county, even though their change is about.	00:41:29
	$40,000.	00:41:32
	Between baseline 27 and estimated first year of the Fire territory 27.	00:41:35
	So this is just a basic.	00:41:41
	Estimate of what those changes could look like because of.	00:41:43
	The influence of the fire territory on these other units.	00:41:46
	Now if you notice.	00:41:51
	When we look at the in the Peach lines there at the bottom.	00:41:53
	When we look at 2027 estimated.	00:41:57
	That line jumps up dramatically for the fire.	00:42:00
	Current fire territory. That's because basically you're taking.	00:42:02
	All of the circuit breaker that's currently attributable to the Highlander district.	00:42:06
	Except for their debt.	00:42:10
	And you're putting it on the fire territory.	00:42:13
	Because now that the fire territory.	00:42:16
	Will be bringing in that levy.	00:42:18
	Not the current, not Highlander district.	00:42:20
	So that's why that change looks kind of odd there. But if you look at the numbers.	00:42:23
	Based upon 27 baseline and you add.	00:42:26
	The Georgetown estimated 27 amount to the 27 estimate amount for Highlander District. It's roughly.	00:42:29
	With some inflation.	00:42:35
	What that 2027 fired?	00:42:36
	Like new fire territory number would be.	00:42:38
	We also have to talk about local income tax.	00:42:43
	Local income taxes are taxes on individuals paychecks.	00:42:46
	They are not property taxes.	00:42:49
	And they follow you back to where you live.	00:42:51
	So if you work over in Clark County.	00:42:54
	But live.	00:42:57
	Here Umm.	00:42:58
	Your local income tax that's taken out of your.	00:42:59
	Paychecks each.	00:43:01
	Pay period.	00:43:02
	Comes back to Floyd County.	00:43:03
	To then be.	00:43:06
	Distributed to units.	00:43:07
	Across the county.	00:43:09
	So the county currently has a number of types.	00:43:11
	Of local income tax in place.	00:43:14
	They have one called certified chairs.	00:43:17
	Which goes to.	00:43:19
	Pretty much all units in the county.	00:43:21
	I think except maybe the Solid Waste Management district.	00:43:23
	And if a Township doesn't have a levy?	00:43:26
	Because I mentioned Greenville doesn't have a levee.	00:43:28
	They don't get local income tax either, so you have to have a levy.	00:43:31
	To get local income tax.	00:43:34
	The other one's public safety.	00:43:37
	Public safety currently goes to the county and municipal units only.	00:43:39
	So it goes to Floyd County.	00:43:43
	Unit and it goes to.	00:43:45
	New Albany City, it goes to town of Georgetown, it goes to Greenville.	00:43:47
	It doesn't come to the.	00:43:50
	District. It doesn't go to any of the townships.	00:43:51
	There's also an economic development lit.	00:43:56
	That one also goes to the county and municipalities only.	00:43:58
	There's one called Correctional Facilities lit which only goes to the county.	00:44:03
	They only use that for the jail.	00:44:07
	There's one called property tax relief.	00:44:10
	Which that is an amount that.	00:44:12
	Basically.	00:44:14
	Goes back to all the units and looks like property tax, so the county is adopted to use this.	00:44:15
	10th of a cent rate.	00:44:21
	To help.	00:44:23
	Diminish the impacts of circuit breaker.	00:44:24
	So if it weren't there.	00:44:27
	And that goes to every tax bill across the county and then is divided up back amongst the units.	00:44:30
	So in a way, everybody shares that one.	00:44:36
	Then in the judicial system lit they have.	00:44:38
	41 hundredths of a percent.	00:44:41
	That one goes just to the county as well. That can be used for the county court system.	00:44:43
	So again, the next page details some of the changes that were made last year under Senate Enrolled Act One.	00:44:48
	The current lit structure information which I just.	00:44:55
	Went over.	00:44:58
	As of right now.	00:44:59
	Is set to expire.	00:45:01
	The end of 2027.	00:45:02
	And any impacts to lit?	00:45:05
	Are a year in arrears?	00:45:07
	So lit distributions in 27.	00:45:09
	Will be affected by levees in 2026.	00:45:12
	But.	00:45:17
	The whole the current system stops at the end of 27.	00:45:17
	After that, there's a new structure in place for the county to adopt differing rates, differing types.	00:45:21
	And for different uses for different units.	00:45:27
	That's at least almost two years away. We don't or.	00:45:31
	Well, year and a half of the time they have to adopt at the summer of 27.	00:45:34
	So we don't know.	00:45:38
	What those numbers are going to be?	00:45:39
	As of right now, we can say that because of the formation of the fire territory.	00:45:41
	It will not change lit distribution.	00:45:46
	Under the current system at all?	00:45:49
	Any future distributions?	00:45:53
	Would be affected only because there is an opportunity for the county to adopt A fire and EMS lit.	00:45:56
	That would go to the fire territory, potentially again if the county chooses to adopt it.	00:46:01
	So the next.	00:46:08
	3 pages.	00:46:09
	Just basically show.	00:46:11
	27 baseline looking like 27 estimated.	00:46:13
	Because it's not going to change because of the fire territory.	00:46:16
	If anything changes in these numbers.	00:46:19
	It would because be because of increased.	00:46:21
	AGI or adjusted gross income.	00:46:24
	Across the county.	00:46:26
	That's what builds the pool.	00:46:27
	For then and then how it gets distributed?	00:46:30
	So only if that AGI changes right now would that make an effect in 27?	00:46:32
	Nothing in the fire territory.	00:46:37
	We'll make a change in 27.	00:46:38
	The final type of revenue we want to look at.	00:46:42
	Is for the vehicle excise taxes that I mentioned.	00:46:44
	Early on.	00:46:47
	So here.	00:46:51
	We have again estimates of.	00:46:53
	What they would be without the territory.	00:46:56
	In 27.	00:47:00
	And then how it would change?	00:47:02
	In 2728 and 29 with the fire territory.	00:47:04
	So this tax is.	00:47:09
	Dispensed throughout the county based upon relative proportion of levy.	00:47:11
	So if the fire territory.	00:47:16
	The new, newly formed fire territory.	00:47:18
	Currently.	00:47:20
	Maybe in 26 has 10% of all the levy in the county.	00:47:21
	But in 27 it has 12% of all the levy in the county.	00:47:24
	There would you would see an increase in the distribution to the fire territory.	00:47:29
	Because they have.	00:47:34
	A larger relative proportion.	00:47:36
	Of Levy, so they would get a larger relative proportion of that revenue when it comes back from the motor view.	00:47:38
	Vehicle Bureau back to the county.	00:47:43
	Again, because New Albany and Highlander.	00:47:46
	Will have only debt levies at that point they would have a smaller.	00:47:49
	Portion so.	00:47:53
	That that amount that would have originally been attributed to Highlander gets.	00:47:55
	Distributed back to the territory and then amongst other units in the county. So some have an increase the first year.	00:47:59
	And then decreases in subsequent years.	00:48:05
	Like for example, the county you know.	00:48:07
	We're estimating they would have about $1,106,000 in 27 and then they would drop to about.	00:48:09
	$1,102,000 in 2028.	00:48:15
	So that concludes.	00:48:21
	The financial.	00:48:24
	Presentation for this evening.	00:48:26
	And I believe now they will be opening the floor for public comment.	00:48:28
	The attorney has some words. Sorry.	00:48:37
	He's just too dark to the.	00:48:45
	You can put the interlocal up.	00:48:48
	1st.	00:48:49
	Good evening. I promise to be brief.	00:48:52
	Which is difficult for attorneys sometimes.	00:48:55
	But my name is Keith Pulliam.	00:48:57
	I'm with the law firm Stall Keenan Ogden.	00:49:00
	I am the attorney for Georgetown Township Fire Protection District, which is the provider unit under the current fire.	00:49:02
	Territory, uh.	00:49:09
	And from a legal perspective, there are really just two documents that are involved in this process. The 1st is what's called.	00:49:10
	And Interlocal Cooperation Agreement.	00:49:20
	And that is a contract.	00:49:23
	If you wanted.	00:49:26
	Brief description A contract between the participating units.	00:49:27
	As to how they are going to.	00:49:32
	Run the fire territory.	00:49:34
	So you heard in the prior presentations that.	00:49:36
	There are three participating units if Highlander chooses to join and and the.	00:49:39
	Fire territory is expanded. There would be 3.	00:49:44
	For Georgetown.	00:49:47
	Highlander and New Albany Township.	00:49:49
	And there would be 1 provider unit which is currently Georgetown.	00:49:51
	Township Fire Protection District.	00:49:55
	So we talked earlier about.	00:49:58
	How there can't be duplicate levies?	00:50:01
	So when the fire territory was formed.	00:50:03
	The two districts.	00:50:06
	Involved agreed by this interlocal agreement.	00:50:09
	To contribute.	00:50:12
	Their monies towards the fire territories.	00:50:14
	And if it was to be expanded?	00:50:17
	The same would be true there.	00:50:20
	There will be 1 operating fund and there's one equipment replacement fund.	00:50:22
	The Interlocal Cooperation Agreement would establish a joint board.	00:50:27
	And the joint board would consist of nine members, 3 each.	00:50:32
	From the participating units.	00:50:36
	And one.	00:50:38
	Additional sitting Member, which is a Commissioner.	00:50:39
	That would be appointed as an EMS advisory member.	00:50:42
	The joint board would then appoint a chair, a vice chair and a secretary.	00:50:45
	And that joint board?	00:50:50
	Would have.	00:50:52
	More or less all administrative, budgetary and fiscal property are powers and responsibilities.	00:50:52
	Moving forward.	00:50:58
	Again.	00:50:59
	This is not a merger, This is not a consolidation per se. It is a contract between the three districts. So it's important to	00:51:00
	understand that the three districts will continue to exist.	00:51:05
	And their boards will continue to exist moving forward.	00:51:11
	So this contract just stays in place?	00:51:15
	To govern what their responsibilities are as we move forward.	00:51:17
	Moving forward.	00:51:22
	If Highlander were to join.	00:51:23
	Then Georgetown.	00:51:25
	Township Fire Protection District as a provider unit.	00:51:27
	Which is operating under the name of Floyd County Fire Territory.	00:51:30
	Would then employ the firefighters that are currently employed.	00:51:35
	By Highlander and they would become part of the overall territory. Oh, I didn't realize I could Scroll down that way.	00:51:39
	That's OK.	00:51:47
	So if we're if we're moving forward here, that was.	00:51:48
	Anyway, that's on page three. You're actually.	00:51:53
	Probably with me there.	00:51:55
	If you go down to the Joint board on Article 2.	00:51:58
	And these documents, these are available for inspection.	00:52:01
	If you want to inspect them, you can.	00:52:05
	You can come see me after the meeting or you can come up and see a copy.	00:52:07
	But so again, joint boards will have the 10 members again we.	00:52:12
	We've kind of covered that if you go forward from there.	00:52:17
	We've covered the officers.	00:52:23
	The board will be just like any other public board. It will have the public meetings with the same public.	00:52:26
	Open meeting requirements and.	00:52:32
	And there's the powers and duties of the.	00:52:37
	Of the Joint Board.	00:52:40
	Again.	00:52:42
	If we keep going here, let's stop. This is where I was Article 3.	00:52:43
	If Highlander were to choose to join the expanded fire territory.	00:52:49
	They would, effective January 1st, contribute their their monies and in essence, this is a distinction.	00:52:53
	They will not contribute all of their assets to the fire territory.	00:53:01
	They will make all of them available for use. So an important distinction with a fire territory is Georgetown has has contributed	00:53:05
	its funds, New Albany Township has contributed its funds.	00:53:10
	However, they each retain ownership.	00:53:16
	To their respective assets like fire stations, fire trucks, equipment, all of that sort of thing is still in the in the name of	00:53:18
	each district.	00:53:22
	And it is just being made for use by the fire territory.	00:53:26
	For so long as that fire territory exists.	00:53:31
	And that would be the ownership and control of separate assets.	00:53:34
	And.	00:53:38
	Moving forward.	00:53:39
	If there are additional assets that are acquired in the future, those would become.	00:53:41
	Territory assets that would be divided.	00:53:45
	And there's a framework that's set forth in this contract.	00:53:48
	As to how they would be divided if the territory is ever.	00:53:50
	Dissolved or if a party withdraws from the territory.	00:53:54
	And if you would just move forward for me there on the next page?	00:53:57
	The again.	00:54:05
	Because it's a territory.	00:54:07
	And because it is a contract.	00:54:09
	The respective fire districts can choose to withdraw from the fire territory.	00:54:12
	And that's what there's a distinction with respect to a.	00:54:17
	Consolidation, right? It's just a contract.	00:54:20
	Annually they could choose to withdraw if they were to.	00:54:23
	To go through the process.	00:54:26
	And if you'll just Scroll down.	00:54:29
	Again, you can skip to the next document. That's the main contract that would be in place. It's very similar to the contract that	00:54:34
	exists today.	00:54:38
	As between the two.	00:54:42
	Current participants, but it is modified as to the board structure.	00:54:44
	Among other small things.	00:54:49
	The other.	00:54:51
	Document is.	00:54:53
	Just a resolution.	00:54:54
	Each of the boards that are here before you today would be required to adopt their own version.	00:54:56
	More or less of an identical.	00:55:02
	Resolution to choose to expand the territory and participate in that expanded territory. There's a second component of this.	00:55:04
	I think it was mentioned earlier there is a equipment replacement fund and that would be.	00:55:12
	Renewed, there would be a new one adopted that would include if Highlander chooses to join, it would include Highlander within the	00:55:17
	territory for purposes of that fund.	00:55:21
	And that resolution there's.	00:55:26
	Not a whole lot there, except it just specifies who the provider units are.	00:55:28
	Who the provider unit is? Who are? Who is the participating units?	00:55:32
	And it more or less adopts.	00:55:36
	The interlocal that we just discussed.	00:55:39
	As far as only one other housekeeping item, everybody.	00:55:43
	Here should have seen there's a copy of a notice of public hearings that was published in the newspaper.	00:55:48
	Just for housekeeping.	00:55:54
	I thought I would.	00:55:56
	Let the boards know that I have the publishers claim that shows the.	00:55:57
	That the notice was published on I believe January 16th.	00:56:04
	Oh, I'm sorry, I'm being corrected. January 13th of January 20th it did was published and we'll go ahead and make that part of the	00:56:10
	minutes tonight to reflect that being published.	00:56:14
	That concludes.	00:56:20
	My presentation.	00:56:22
	Thank you, Keith.	00:56:24
	Speaking of being corrected, I want to correct.	00:56:26
	Two things that I said incorrectly.	00:56:29
	During my presentation.	00:56:31
	The staffing is going to include three firefighters.	00:56:33
	On a shift at the Georgetown Downtown station.	00:56:37
	And the new station at Bud Rd.	00:56:40
	All other stations will have 4.	00:56:42
	So I believe I said the wrong numbers. That was my mistake and also.	00:56:44
	The patterning is going to be 24 hours on.	00:56:48
	72 off.	00:56:50
	And then 48 hours on, 72 off.	00:56:52
	And I I said 24 each so.	00:56:54
	Thank you for.	00:56:57
	Those that blew up my phone.	00:56:58
	Wonders of technology.	00:57:00
	One thing I do want to highlight just a little bit on the financial aspect is.	00:57:02
	The presentation of.	00:57:05
	How the impact to the community?	00:57:07
	Going to happen with the territory.	00:57:09
	Solely takes into account.	00:57:12
	That the only revenue that the territorial will get is from property taxes.	00:57:14
	Currently.	00:57:19
	Highlander District receives a significant portion of their budget through local income tax.	00:57:20
	That's going away.	00:57:25
	We don't know what that's going to look like in the future.	00:57:26
	But.	00:57:29
	We can't plan on that. So that's basically a worst case scenario.	00:57:30
	If we as a territory are able to get.	00:57:34
	Lit in the future.	00:57:37
	We would reduce.	00:57:39
	Property tax revenue that we collect.	00:57:40
	We made that commitment last year when we went through the process to create the territory.	00:57:42
	And this year, we told the state.	00:57:46
	We wanted to collect less property tax.	00:57:48
	Than we actually were allowed to.	00:57:51
	Because we still receive some lit.	00:57:53
	So that is a commitment that we made last year and we make that again as we go forward.	00:57:55
	And also one last point, the.	00:58:00
	Two districts that are.	00:58:03
	Participating in the territory currently.	00:58:04
	It was forecasted that the.	00:58:07
	Property tax levy to the Community would decrease.	00:58:09
	For the second year of the territory.	00:58:13
	That's because under statute, the first year you create a territory, you can collect what's called a cash balance.	00:58:15
	20%.	00:58:21
	20% last year, 20% extra so that you can pay your bills.	00:58:24
	As you start.	00:58:28
	You're not allowed to collect that in the future though.	00:58:29
	So the property taxes were forecast to go down.	00:58:32
	For Georgetown Township Fire Protection District.	00:58:35
	Members and.	00:58:38
	New Albany Township.	00:58:39
	Do we have the list of people signed up?	00:58:41
	Nobody's.	00:58:45
	OK, So what we'll do, go ahead and.	00:58:48
	Leave it there.	00:58:51
	Please sign up on the sheet. We have to keep a record of who actually speaks.	00:58:52
	Please come up to the podium, the microphone should be working.	00:58:57
	And I will.	00:59:00
	Keep track of three minutes. I'll tell you 30 seconds.	00:59:02
	Just so that you can.	00:59:05
	Know what timing is on.	00:59:07
	And as I said, if we.	00:59:08
	Go through everybody who wants to speak and want somebody else wants to speak again.	00:59:10
	Then we'll allow that opportunity.	00:59:13
	And this is an opportunity for you to comment.	00:59:17
	And if we've got?	00:59:21
	If you're ready.	00:59:22
	I'm sorry.	00:59:23
	Can you confirm?	00:59:25
	Highlanders tax rate? Are you sure it's .3? It's not .2 somet.	00:59:27
	The budget order that came out from the DLGF, I think it was last week or the week before.	00:59:31
	Has your rate at just it's a little over .3 because the you have a debt included as well. What is our current record taxing at	00:59:36
	right now?	00:59:40
	25 or.	00:59:45
	I mean the like I said, the the operating and.	00:59:47
	Cumulative portion I don't have your debt.	00:59:50
	Straight right at my fingertips.	00:59:53
	That your cumulative and operating portion for the 26 budget is Lafayette is the only.	00:59:54
	That has the dental bill.	00:59:59
	It's not, it's not how the Lafayette has it there. So the ad would be slightly different, but but on the whole.	01:00:00
	Assessed value.	01:00:07
	And the full operating for current Highlander?	01:00:08
	And we calculated based upon the budget order at .3039.	01:00:12
	But that's if you don't need.	01:00:17
	Certified Chairs.	01:00:18
	Yeah, yeah. That's only property. So let's, let's tell the public really what's going to happen to their taxes, our property	01:00:20
	taxes.	01:00:22
	If that's not the true story.	01:00:25
	True stories your property taxes currently.	01:00:27
	Are .23.	01:00:29
	And they're going to move to .3.	01:00:31
	Because the.	01:00:33
	The certified shares are going away.	01:00:34
	So if I'm a property owner.	01:00:36
	My property tax is going to go to 0.2 something.	01:00:39
	To .3.	01:00:41
	Right for 26 your tax rate for your Highlander district.	01:00:43
	Is .3.	01:00:49
	That count? Certified chairs? No, that's only property tax. I can pull up a copy of the budget order and show you what I'm talking	01:00:51
	about.	01:00:54
	That that does not include certified chairs. We didn't include certified chairs.	01:00:57
	Like.	01:01:01
	To support you and.	01:01:02
	Going forward.	01:01:04
	OK.	01:01:05
	But from what they're being taxed at right now, the jump is much larger because.	01:01:09
	The .3 hasn't hit them yet, yeah.	01:01:13
	Because I'm talking about 26, right? Right.	01:01:15
	Right, So they're they're actually increase that they're going to see from what they've actually gotten bills on now is going to	01:01:18
	be much larger.	01:01:20
	So you're saying you're 25 rate is .23? I think so in that.	01:01:24
	20 in that range.	01:01:29
	What happened to your read this year that it went to .3? I need to reach. I don't have that in front of me, that's why I'm asking.	01:01:30
	OK. So that's, I mean you just went by the budget order and what was on, I believe somebody gave us a copy of your 1782 notice, I	01:01:35
	think you did.	01:01:39
	Ford Levy was taken this year.	01:01:43
	Than in previous years.	01:01:46
	But I don't know that we.	01:01:48
	We don't necessarily have to tax to that levy.	01:01:50
	That you accepted it when you when you didn't respond to the 1782.	01:01:52
	Where somebody signed the 1782 and sent it back at the full amount.	01:01:57
	That's uh.	01:02:01
	What you will be levying after 26? OK, I have to check on that. I can't. I don't answer that. I don't. I don't for the budget.	01:02:02
	You know.	01:02:07
	With the current tax rate, I think for.	01:02:14
	Highlanders in the .23 range I think.	01:02:16
	What they're currently paying.	01:02:19
	OK, we'll try and make sure that we.	01:02:25
	Get the accurate information because that's what we want to make sure everybody gets.	01:02:27
	We do have an agenda period for board comments. That was a good clarification to ask, but.	01:02:32
	I'll ask him when somebody has something I want to say right now.	01:02:37
	There is an opportunity for board comments after the public comments.	01:02:39
	That's OK.	01:02:43
	So if everybody's in agreement with that.	01:02:44
	OK, public comments.	01:02:46
	If you could state your name when you come up and.	01:02:51
	Sure.	01:02:53
	My name is Chris Redden.	01:02:56
	I saw my name and address over there so hopefully.	01:03:00
	I don't get doxed or something stupid.	01:03:02
	Because really?	01:03:05
	I'm not comfortable with.	01:03:06
	Public speaking.	01:03:07
	But.	01:03:09
	I'm not here to ***** either, I'm just simply here that you asking.	01:03:10
	You listen and hear me out a little bit.	01:03:14
	Some of you all know me, most you know me, but I volunteer my time in this community.	01:03:16
	To make it a better place, I do it for the children.	01:03:20
	Everything else.	01:03:23
	One thing my property taxes this year was $17,140.	01:03:26
	My property insurance went up 72%.	01:03:31
	No fault of my own, just everybody else. Hail, damage, whatever else.	01:03:34
	My health insurance went up to $18,000 this year.	01:03:38
	Something's got to give.	01:03:42
	And I had to give up my health insurance this year.	01:03:44
	When I go home with health insurance, I can't afford it.	01:03:47
	Anymore and I volunteer my time on the screening, I don't have to get paid.	01:03:49
	I don't ask to to get on the news, I just do it to take care of the children and help out.	01:03:53
	And everything I've heard in here so far has just been about property taxes. Property taxes.	01:03:58
	Haven't heard one thing about.	01:04:03
	How the but combining the fire territory is actually.	01:04:05
	Improve service to our community.	01:04:09
	We just had a fire out in Greenville.	01:04:11
	And how many fire departments showed up?	01:04:14
	And we didn't need a fire territory to get that done. It was just simply.	01:04:16
	Community coming together when they needed help and it happened.	01:04:20
	And it seems like that this.	01:04:24
	Fire merger district is simply because.	01:04:26
	Of what happened at the state.	01:04:30
	With the property tax, the SB1 bill that's going to remove property taxes and now.	01:04:32
	This is a merger.	01:04:37
	Simply 4.	01:04:38
	Property tax grab. It's a money grab.	01:04:40
	Just what it seems like to me.	01:04:42
	I may be wrong.	01:04:43
	I don't know.	01:04:44
	But uh.	01:04:45
	You know, if you read the News and Tribune.	01:04:47
	And you go to the back of it, the information page back there, you see how many sheriff's cells there are.	01:04:49
	I don't know if you pay attention to it or not.	01:04:53
	When people look at sheriff sales, they say Oh well, they couldn't afford their mortgage, that's why it's getting sold.	01:04:56
	Well, the realistic part of it is is.	01:05:00
	Most people don't have 20% to put down on a home anymore.	01:05:02
	So they're getting private mortgage insurance?	01:05:05
	So guess what? Their house payment was $1000 a month.	01:05:07
	Well then all of a sudden, their property.	01:05:11
	Insurance goes up and their taxes go up.	01:05:13
	Now their house payments $1500 a month.	01:05:15
	Guess what?	01:05:18
	Can't afford it anymore?	01:05:18
	And guess what?	01:05:20
	And somebody comes and takes their property from.	01:05:21
	So all I'm asking.	01:05:23
	It seems like a little bit.	01:05:26
	Like we don't reward fiscal responsibility anymore.	01:05:28
	It's this this area didn't do well managing their funds, and now we got this area that does. We're going to merge them together	01:05:31
	and now we're going to pay more.	01:05:36
	Because these people didn't.	01:05:40
	And so I don't, I mean, I don't know.	01:05:42
	That's just what I got to say, I mean.	01:05:46
	Probably this is already a foregone.	01:05:48
	Conclusion about what's going to happen.	01:05:50
	But.	01:05:52
	I'm really.	01:05:53
	Just tired of the property taxes to be honest with you. I wish that somebody would.	01:05:55
	Be a little more creative.	01:05:58
	Figure out a way that we could tax the people.	01:06:00
	So that you can pay for fire.	01:06:02
	EMS.	01:06:04
	And the police?	01:06:06
	And then it's responsible. You know, it's kind of like, as I say.	01:06:08
	If somebody comes into my property in my garage and steals something from me, it ****** me off. If they would just ask, I'd	01:06:12
	probably give it to him.	01:06:15
	You know.	01:06:19
	And the same thing is with the.	01:06:19
	With this, I don't know why we can't.	01:06:21
	Ask our community.	01:06:23
	To support what we need.	01:06:24
	So again.	01:06:27
	Not ******** I just.	01:06:28
	Really want to get rid of the property tax thing. I don't know if there's a way if there's a will.	01:06:30
	But it's.	01:06:34
	Existentially, uh.	01:06:36
	Is taken away our right to live almost.	01:06:37
	You know there's three things you need to live and if you.	01:06:40
	If you go in the wilderness.	01:06:42
	Food, water, shelter.	01:06:44
	Right.	01:06:46
	And when you tax our property, you're taking our chance to survive.	01:06:47
	With our property.	01:06:50
	Thank you, Mr. Edmond.	01:06:52
	Thank you.	01:06:53
	Angie, does anybody else sign up?	01:07:00
	Mark Who, Lafayette Township.	01:07:07
	First thing, Matt.	01:07:10
	Touch base on last month or.	01:07:11
	Our tax, our rates were 21 and a half cents and.	01:07:13
	Matt jumped on it here a while ago because they raised it to.	01:07:18
	.3039.	01:07:21
	And it was .215.	01:07:23
	A month ago.	01:07:26
	So then the other thing, the main thing I want to talk about is the board's.	01:07:27
	10 member Board.	01:07:32
	Every you got 10 members.	01:07:35
	On the board where it sounds.	01:07:38
	And so.	01:07:41
	I thought it was going to be done evenly, where everybody's represented from each Township.	01:07:44
	And you got three, you know, three members from Georgetown, three members from New Albany Township, three members from Highlander	01:07:49
	Fire.	01:07:52
	So I think, I think the Lafayette Township and Greenville Township is coming up short on representation on the board.	01:07:56
	Because I don't know what three members we're going to use.	01:08:03
	For the for the new board.	01:08:06
	But we don't have one Lafayette Township member on our board.	01:08:08
	So Lafayette Township should have three members. Greenville Township should have 3 members.	01:08:12
	And that's what I want you all to take into consideration because I think that's lopsided.	01:08:17
	Thanks.	01:08:24
	Thank you.	01:08:25
	Angie, did anybody else sign up?	01:08:33
	OK, last chance.	01:08:35
	Public comments.	01:08:37
	Officially closed public.	01:08:43
	OK. We'll officially close public comments. Thank you for those that spoke.	01:08:45
	And our last agenda item for the meeting?	01:08:49
	Is board comments so I'll.	01:08:52
	Look down here to my right first and start on the side of the table.	01:08:54
	I'll come back down here to the left.	01:09:03
	I jumped ahead. I'm sorry.	01:09:06
	Well, I'm going to jump in here briefly.	01:09:17
	One thing that hasn't been discussed is ambulance service in the county.	01:09:20
	And right now?	01:09:25
	Our department has a contract to serve.	01:09:29
	Our area for ambulance service.	01:09:32
	That is going away.	01:09:35
	The Commissioner's intent, as I understand it.	01:09:37
	Is then to go to a.	01:09:39
	Countrywide ambulance service.	01:09:42
	The alternative would be a private ambulance service and I think there's a distinct distaste in this.	01:09:44
	Area for private.	01:09:51
	Ambulance services. I'm a new member to the board, I've only been on a year.	01:09:53
	But I've got a.	01:09:59
	I've got to tout the success.	01:10:01
	Of our department for ambulance service.	01:10:03
	I think everybody agrees that it's top notch outfit.	01:10:06
	And when you're maybe in the worst day of your life.	01:10:10
	And you give them a call, they're there to serve you and very professionally. And I commend all my people for that so very much.	01:10:14
	So the county intends.	01:10:22
	My understanding is.	01:10:23
	The county intention is then to.	01:10:26
	Take our ambulance service.	01:10:29
	And build upon to make a county ambulance service.	01:10:31
	And so that will be funded.	01:10:34
	By the statute.	01:10:39
	With a local income tax.	01:10:41
	So that will pull that.	01:10:44
	Piece out of.	01:10:46
	Our budget.	01:10:48
	To go to the but the far to.	01:10:49
	The ambulance service.	01:10:52
	As proposed, now will be part of the territory.	01:10:53
	So just one, I think that's.	01:10:58
	That wasn't addressing this.	01:10:59
	And I think it needs to be. It's a very important part of the.	01:11:01
	Service that will be.	01:11:04
	Provided.	01:11:06
	As proposed.	01:11:07
	I can speak to that real quickly if you want to.	01:11:12
	Matt, do you want? Did you have a comment?	01:11:15
	No, no, no please different one.	01:11:17
	Suzanne.	01:11:18
	Go back to the org chart.	01:11:20
	But it's found it different.	01:11:28
	So as was just described, we didn't make it a focal point of the discussion here because it's not been done.	01:11:32
	And then nothing's been.	01:11:38
	Decided.	01:11:40
	There are conversations going on.	01:11:41
	And I would say that there are plans being discussed, but.	01:11:43
	In full transparency.	01:11:46
	If you look on the far right hand side of this org chart.	01:11:48
	It's basically. I'll start here.	01:11:51
	The plan for 2027 is that there would be 3 divisions within the fire territory.	01:11:53
	Suppression division of support division and an EMS division.	01:11:59
	So the EMS division.	01:12:03
	Would be separate from firefighting.	01:12:06
	It would be civilian employees, not firefighters. It'd be EMS professionals.	01:12:08
	Who would be provided the resources and?	01:12:13
	The training and the opportunity to be the best EMS service that.	01:12:17
	This county's ever seen.	01:12:21
	A lot of those people are probably going to be the people in doing it.	01:12:23
	With Highlander.	01:12:26
	So it is there. The intention though is that it would be funded by a different revenue source.	01:12:28
	Then the fire territory levy.	01:12:34
	Again, it has not been finalized or.	01:12:39
	Or is a thing that's.	01:12:42
	Been agreed to.	01:12:43
	But there are efforts and plans moving forward to try and accomplish it.	01:12:45
	But that's all the information really that I can say right now about it.	01:12:50
	So Matt, did you have something?	01:12:55
	No, my my question is probably a bigger fold here.	01:12:57
	How do we?	01:13:01
	Push the Council.	01:13:03
	To use their power with the lids to offset the increase in the property tax from the certified shares going away.	01:13:04
	We're doing a dis justice.	01:13:10
	If we don't make that push.	01:13:12
	Otherwise, we're going to make it easy.	01:13:14
	For the Council.	01:13:16
	Just to raise the property taxes and not fund it through lits which it.	01:13:17
	Currently it's happening today.	01:13:21
	I think that.	01:13:25
	As we move forward, it's going to have to be in partnership with county leadership.	01:13:26
	If we're going to be a county wide.	01:13:30
	Territory.	01:13:32
	Was a component of EMS.	01:13:33
	We're not our own little entities that will just kind of go do our own business and we're not working with the county leadership.	01:13:36
	So in addition to the Council.	01:13:41
	Working with the commissioners, the executive branch.	01:13:44
	3 entities would have to work together very closely on what?	01:13:47
	Is the vision and the long range plan to make this the best that it can be for our community?	01:13:50
	Unfortunately, the Council's hands have gotten tied pretty bad by Senate Roman Act One.	01:13:55
	And I'm not an expert in taxes or.	01:14:00
	Legal.	01:14:03
	I leave that to the experts.	01:14:03
	But the ability for the Council to enact.	01:14:05
	Newts.	01:14:07
	Under SCA one.	01:14:08
	Is restricted from what they used to be able to do.	01:14:10
	There is one lit.	01:14:13
	As Susan identified, that's an EMS fire.	01:14:14
	Lit it's capped at a certain amount.	01:14:18
	Some of the discussions that.	01:14:21
	I have had people tell me is that if.	01:14:23
	We move forward adding EMS to the territory.	01:14:25
	There is.	01:14:29
	Acceptable agreement within the Council and the Commissioners.	01:14:31
	To enact that.	01:14:34
	Fire, I'm sorry, EMS and fire lit.	01:14:35
	If we.	01:14:40
	Run an EMS service that has a billing component.	01:14:42
	That would.	01:14:47
	Bill people that use the service.	01:14:49
	There's a commitment and a promise that's been made that.	01:14:52
	If an individual needs an ambulance and they come and they transport them to the hospital, they would get billed.	01:14:56
	For what their insurance company could pay.	01:15:01
	They would not get Bill.	01:15:03
	Anything above what their insurance company could pay if they are resident of Floyd County.	01:15:05
	Between the billing revenue.	01:15:11
	And the lit.	01:15:13
	There may be an excess of funds.	01:15:15
	To fund EMS.	01:15:17
	Legally, that could then Passover to the fire service.	01:15:19
	And help fund firefighting efforts.	01:15:22
	That would then allow us to lower the property tax levy.	01:15:24
	But I can't sit here and make any kind of promise or guarantee that we could.	01:15:28
	Go and get a separate lit.	01:15:33
	That would help reduce the property tax levy because I don't know that that legally exists at the current time.	01:15:35
	I do know there are a lot of people that are pounding the pavement in Indianapolis saying.	01:15:41
	OK, you created this mess, now you need to help us fix it.	01:15:45
	So I agree with you a whole.	01:15:48
	Hardly.	01:15:50
	I don't think it's appropriate to expect emergency services, which the entire county needs.	01:15:51
	That you only fund it with part of your community.	01:15:57
	Footing the bill?	01:16:00
	So in principle, I agree with you. I just, I can't sit here and say this is what we're going to do going forward though.	01:16:01
	How do we get them at the table now?	01:16:07
	Because if you make it easy on politicians now.	01:16:08
	They're going to take the easy way out later.	01:16:12
	Because they're not going to put a new lit in place if there's already a funding structure.	01:16:14
	So is there a method for us to?	01:16:17
	Get them to the bargaining table now.	01:16:19
	Before we go down that road.	01:16:21
	And follow up with that is the EMS.	01:16:23
	Fire and EMS lit have enough room.	01:16:25
	To fund all of EMS and part of fire.	01:16:28
	Again, I'm not leading that charge. I'm.	01:16:32
	Kind of getting spoken to.	01:16:35
	I believe that the sentiment is that yes.	01:16:36
	There is room.	01:16:38
	And that, as I said, both at the Commissioner and Council level, there is support.	01:16:40
	To move forward with that plan.	01:16:45
	But I can't say even more than that.	01:16:48
	How to make it happen?	01:16:50
	Continue to work with them respectfully show them that we're professionals and we know how to do our job.	01:16:51
	And that we need help to do it.	01:16:56
	The best way we can so we can support our community.	01:16:57
	And I think that they're going to respect that and work with us.	01:17:00
	Maybe it's a legal question. Is there a way to get them to the table now where they make the commitment now?	01:17:04
	They're they're asking us.	01:17:11
	To do this is there I would suggest that.	01:17:13
	I'll answer it this way.	01:17:17
	Those that are wanting to implement this plan.	01:17:21
	Concerning EMS.	01:17:24
	Are interested in having.	01:17:26
	Operational January 1st.	01:17:28
	2027.	01:17:30
	In order for that to happen.	01:17:31
	Several things have to happen between now and then.	01:17:33
	The only way that they would be able to have.	01:17:38
	The District.	01:17:41
	The technical providing.	01:17:42
	Agency or entity?	01:17:45
	Do EMS.	01:17:47
	Is if we enter into a contract.	01:17:48
	Sitting down and figuring out what the terms of that contract are is how we will be able to have that conversation.	01:17:51
	But I wouldn't advocate.	01:17:57
	Or suggest that it is ultimately in the best interest for.	01:17:59
	Everybody involved in this to.	01:18:03
	Get our pitchforks ready and.	01:18:07
	Try and get politicians to bend to our will. I'm, I'm, I'm not saying that, but I just know that.	01:18:08
	If you kick the can down the road, it becomes harder down the road.	01:18:13
	If they're at the table now and and say hey.	01:18:17
	All indications are yes, we we support offsetting the increase in the property taxes with the additional lit.	01:18:19
	Now we keep funding in the same ballpark.	01:18:26
	But I think.	01:18:28
	Asking them now.	01:18:29
	Go public or at least say yes.	01:18:30
	That is our intention.	01:18:33
	I think may go a long way to answering a lot of questions with the community.	01:18:36
	I hear your point.	01:18:41
	Anything else?	01:18:46
	OK.	01:18:51
	Motion.	01:18:53
	So you can do a.	01:18:54
	Most of the joint motion.	01:18:56
	All right, I'll entertain a joint motion from.	01:18:58
	Anybody and everybody to adjourn.	01:19:01
	All right. Then we are adjourned. Thank you, everybody. We appreciate your time this evening.	01:19:03